title: Basilar artery atherosclerosis and hypertensive small vessel disease in isolated pontine infarctions: a study based on high-resolution MRI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Isolated pontine infarctions are classified as paramedian pontine infarction (PPI) and lacunar pontine infarction (LPI), usually attributed to basilar artery (BA) atherosclerosis and small vessel disease (SVD), respectively. Recently, researchers found BA atherosclerotic plaques in LPI and made the pathogenesis of LPI confusing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the presence and location of BA plaques with high-resolution MRI and SVD burden with presence of hypertension, leukoaraiosis and silent brain infarction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of BA plaques and SVD was similar between PPI and LPI, with most plaques relevant to corresponding infarctions. Some PPI had no plaques; some LPI had no obvious SVD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SVD and BA plaques with or without lumen stenosis were both possible causes of PPI and LPI.
authors: Department of Neurology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Feng
authors: Yu
authors: Y
authors: Xu
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Bai
authors: Ting
authors: T
authors: Hua
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Guang-Yu
authors: GY
authors: Tang
authors: Yu-Juan
authors: YJ
authors: Chen
authors: Xue-Yuan
authors: XY
authors: Liu
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020526:Brain Stem Infarctions / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011149:Pons / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*