title: Contrast-enhanced 3T high-resolution MR imaging in symptomatic atherosclerotic basilar artery stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contrast-enhanced 3T high-resolution MR imaging can be used to determine the wall enhancement pattern of the basilar artery in symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis. We used this method to explore the relationship between wall enhancement and both recent infarction in the territory of the stenotic BA and subsequent ischemic events associated with the stenotic BA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic BA stenosis ≥70% were enrolled consecutively. HR-MRI of cross-sectional BAs was obtained before and after contrast media injection, and wall enhancement indices were calculated for sections proximal to, at, and distal to the site of maximal luminal narrowing. DWI of the brain was performed to determine the presence of recent infarction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Images from 56 patients were suitable for analysis. Thirty-three patients underwent stent placement for the stenotic BA, and 23 patients underwent conservative medical treatment with antiplatelet agents and risk-factor control. All 23 patients with medical treatment had a 12-month follow-up. Greater wall enhancement was seen in the section proximal to the MLN section in both patients with recent infarction (74 ± 65% versus 44 ± 44%; P = .046) and in patients with subsequent ischemic events (100 ± 57% versus 44 ± 44%; P = .014).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater wall enhancement proximal to the MLN site correlates with recent infarction in the territory of the stenotic BA and subsequent ischemic events associated with the stenotic BA. Contrast-enhanced HR-MRI may serve as a noninvasive tool for risk stratification of BA atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: W-J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology*; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA