title: The significance of cortical cerebellar microbleeds and microinfarcts in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases. A post-mortem 7.0-tesla magnetic resonance study with neuropathological correlates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As cortical microbleeds and microinfarcts in neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases have been studied predominantly at the level of the cerebral hemispheres and linked to the presence of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), we aimed at determining with 7.0-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) whether the causes and the frequency of cortical cerebellar microbleeds (CCeMBs) and microinfarcts (CCeMIs) are the same.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred and four postmortem brains, composed of 29 with pure Alzheimer's disease (AD), 9 with AD associated to CAA, 10 with frontotemporal lobar degeneration, 9 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 10 with Lewy body disease, 12 with progressive supranuclear palsy, 9 with vascular dementia (VaD), and 16 controls, were examined. On a horizontal section of a cerebellar hemisphere examined with 7.0-tesla MRI, the number CCeMBs and CCeMIs were compared between the different disease groups and the control group. The MRI findings were also compared with the corresponding mean values observed on histological examination of a separate standard horizontal section of a cerebellar hemisphere, used for diagnostic purpose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCeMBs and CCeMIs were only significantly increased in the VaD group. When comparing the diseased patients with and without CAA mutually and with those with arterial hypertension and severe atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease, only in the latter an increase of CCeMBs and CCeMIs was observed. There was an excellent correlation between the MRI and the neuropathological findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCeMBs and CCeMIs are mainly due to atherosclerotic cerebrovascular disease and not due to CAA. Their increased presence cannot be included to the Boston diagnostic criteria for CAA.
authors: Université de Lille, INSERM U1171, Lille, France.
authors: Jacques L
authors: JL
authors: De Reuck
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Deramecourt
authors: Florent
authors: F
authors: Auger
authors: Nicolas
authors: N
authors: Durieux
authors: Charlotte
authors: C
authors: Cordonnier
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Devos
authors: Luc
authors: L
authors: Defebvre
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Moreau
authors: Dominique
authors: D
authors: Capparos-Lefebvre
authors: Florence
authors: F
authors: Pasquier
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Leys
authors: Claude-Alain
authors: CA
authors: Maurage
authors: Regis
authors: R
authors: Bordet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D001344:Autopsy; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D002526:Cerebellar Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D016657:Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D057174:Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D020961:Lewy Body Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology