title: Cerebral microbleeds: histopathological correlation of neuroimaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, there has been a growing interest in cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and their role in cerebrovascular disease. A few studies have investigated the histopathological correlation between CMBs and neuroimaging findings. We conducted a systematic review in an attempt to characterize the pathological and radiological correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted for studies in which CMBs were characterized histopathologically and correlated with MRI findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five studies met the inclusion criteria, with a total of 18 patients. Hemosiderin deposition was reported in 42 CMBs (49%), while 16 CMBs (19%) were described as old hematomas which stained for iron, 13 (15%) had no associated specific pathology, 11 (13%) contained intact erythrocytes, 1 (1%) was due to vascular pseudocalcification, 1 (1%) was a microaneurysm and 1 (1%) was a distended dissected vessel. Lipofibrohyalinosis was the most prominent associated vascular finding. Amyloid angiopathy was present primarily in patients with dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although histopathological associations have been observed using MRI in patients with CMBs, the findings have yet to be validated and further research is warranted.
authors: Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. ashkan.sho@gmail.com
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Shoamanesh
authors: C S
authors: CS
authors: Kwok
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Benavente
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D059345:Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006485:Hemosiderin / Q000378:metabolism; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging
chemical_list: D006485:Hemosiderin