title: Parenchymal hypointense foci associated with developmental venous anomalies: evaluation by phase-sensitive MR Imaging at 3T.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The risk of hemorrhage in the context of developmental venous anomaly is considered to be very low, but it has never been evaluated by susceptibility-weighted MR imaging at 3T. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypointense foci (ie, microhemorrhage or cavernous malformation) associated with DVA on phase-sensitive MR imaging, on the basis of principles similar to those of susceptibility-weighted MR imaging, and to evaluate the relationship between the hypointense foci and several factors, such as white matter hyperintense lesions adjacent to DVA on T2-weighted imaging, DVA morphology, and clinical symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively evaluated 61 lesions in 59 consecutive patients with DVA who underwent MR imaging including phase-sensitive MR imaging. Two neuroradiologists independently assessed for the presence of hypointense foci and other factors such as DVA location, depth, size, direction of draining vein on phase-sensitive MR imaging, and white matter hyperintense lesion on T2-weighted imaging. Clinical symptoms were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hypointense foci were observed in 62.3% (38/61) of lesions. White matter hyperintense lesion was more frequently observed in patients with hypointense foci (26/38) than in patients without hypointense foci (7/23) (P < .01). There was no significant association between hypointense foci and other factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the hypothesis that microhemorrhage or cavernous malformation can be related to venous congestion caused by abnormal venous drainage. We conclude that phase-sensitive MR imagingis useful for the detection of microhemorrhage or cavernous malformation in patients with DVA, especially when associated with white matter hyperintense lesion.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takasugi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaminou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D020786:Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D015994:Incidence; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult