title: Three dimensional model-based analysis of the lenticulostriate arteries and identification of the vessels correlated to the infarct area: preliminary results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Small vessel diseases have been studied noninvasively with magnetic resonance imaging. Direct observation or visualization of the connected microvessel to the infarct, however, was not possible due to the limited resolution. Hence, one could not determine whether vessel occlusion or abnormal narrowing is the cause of an infarct.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this report, we demonstrate that the small vessel related to the infarct can be detected using ultra-high-field (7 T) magnetic resonance imaging and a three dimensional image analysis and modeling technique for microvessels, which thereby enables us to quantify the vessel morphology directly, that is, visualize the vessel that is related to the infarct. We compared vessels of selected stroke patients, who had recovered from stroke, with vessels from typical stroke patients, who had after effects like motor weakness, and age-matched healthy subjects to demonstrate the potential of the technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental results show that typical stroke patients had overall degradation or loss of small vessels, compared with the selected patients as well as healthy subjects. The selected patients, however, had only minimal loss of vessels, except for one vessel located close to the infarct area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary results demonstrated that 7 T magnetic resonance imaging together with a three dimensional image analysis and modeling technique could provide information for detection of the vessel related to the infarct. In addition, three dimensional image analysis and modeling of vessels could further provide quantitative information on the microvessel structures comprising diameter, length and tortuosity.
authors: Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Korea.
authors: Chang-Ki
authors: CK
authors: Kang
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Wörz
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Liao
authors: Chan-A
authors: CA
authors: Park
authors: Young-Bo
authors: YB
authors: Kim
authors: Cheol-Wan
authors: CW
authors: Park
authors: Young-Bae
authors: YB
authors: Lee
authors: Karl
authors: K
authors: Rohr
authors: Zang-Hee
authors: ZH
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020144:Basal Ganglia Cerebrovascular Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging