title: Dynamic cross-sectional changes of the middle cerebral artery in atherosclerotic stenosis detected by 3·0-Tesla MRI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Atherosclerotic stenosis of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is one of the causes of ischemic stroke, but aside from investigations using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), studies evaluating stenosis are rare. The purpose of this study was to assess dynamic changes of MCA cross section between the systolic and diastolic phases in patients with cerebral infarction using 3·0-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed 12 stroke patients with M1 stenosis in the MCA and 12 healthy volunteers. We measured MCA cross sections (proximal/distal to stenosis and on the stenosis) in the systolic and diastolic phases by synchronizing imaging with heartbeats, as well as the maximum flow velocity by using cine-phase contrast (PC) MRI. Each patient also underwent conventional MRA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences in cross sections between systolic and diastolic phases were significantly smaller in the stenosed artery compared to the distal (P < 0·05) and proximal areas (P < 0·01) in stroke patients. The difference in maximal blood velocity between systolic and diastolic phases at the M1 stenosis was significantly larger than that in the area proximal to the stenosis (P < 0·05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We clearly demonstrated dynamic cross-sectional changes in the stenotic areas by 3T MRI, suggesting hemodynamic shear stress, which may further enhance MCA atherosclerosis.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mizuma
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Nao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kajihara
authors.forename: Hayato
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.forename: Mami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawakata
authors.forename: Syuhei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shibukawa
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishio
authors.forename: Tomohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horie
authors.forename: Noriharu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yanagimachi
authors.forename: Shunya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takizawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Atherosclerosis,; Cine MRI,; Synchronizing imaging