title: Basilar artery atherosclerotic plaques distribution in symptomatic patients: a 3.0T high-resolution MRI study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate basilar artery atherosclerotic plaque distribution characteristics in symptomatic patients using 3.0T high-resolution MRI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with recent ischemic strokes or transient ischemic attacks were included. Conventional angiographic luminal imaging of these patients showed at least 30% basilar artery stenosis. Patients then underwent basilar artery high-resolution MRI examinations (T2WI, T1WI and post-contrast enhanced T1WI in short axial and long axial views). The narrowest lumen plaque distribution was evaluated by cross-section division into four equal arcs (right, ventral, left and dorsal arcs) on the short axial T2-weighted images. The percent plaque fraction was calculated as arc plaque area/luminal area×100, with each compared by analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The basilar artery lumens and walls were clearly shown in all 38 patients. The median plaque area sizes were 2.73mm(2) (range: 1.04-5.29mm(2)) on the ventral wall, 0.59mm(2) (range: 0-1.50mm(2)) on the left wall, 0.87mm(2) (range: 0-2.68mm(2)) on the dorsal wall, and 0.36mm(2) (range: 0-1.80mm(2)) on the right wall. The mean plaque fraction percentages were 21.6% (range: 7.9-34.0%) on the ventral wall, 4.6% (range: 0-10.0%) on the left wall, 6.3% (range: 0-16.3%) on the dorsal wall, and 2.6% (range: 0-12.9%) on the right wall. On the ventral wall, the plaque fraction percentage was significantly greater than the remaining three arcs (P=.000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Basilar artery atherosclerotic plaques were mainly distributed at the ventral site of the artery. High-resolution MR examination may provide helpful information to minimize endovascular therapy risk complications in basilar artery atherosclerotic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Wan-Qun
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xin-Tong
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hong-Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Pei-Jun
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Ke
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA