Evaluation of lenticular artery morphological features based on 7 T MR angiography

LI Runze; LYU Jinhao; DUAN Qi; WANG Wanbing; WANG Xinyu; LOU Xin

doi:10.19300/j.2024.L21350

Abstract：Objective To explore the differences in the morphological characteristics of lenticulostriate arteries(LSAs)in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic middle cerebral artery(MCA)atherosclerotic stenosis using ultra-high-field 7 T time-of-flight MR angiography(7 T TOF MRA).Methods This prospective study continuously included 39 patients diagnosed with unilateral MCA M1 segment stenosis,with an average age of 54.36±2.05 years,31 cases were male(79.49%).Patients were divided into symptomatic(19 cases,48.72%)and asymptomatic groups(20 cases,51.28%)based on their symptoms.According to the degree of MCA M1 stenosis,patients were further subdivided into non-severe and severe stenosis subgroups.The symptomatic group had 11 cases of non-severe stenosis and 8 cases of severe stenosis,while the asymptomatic group had 10 cases of non-severe stenosis and 10 cases of severe stenosis.One physician assessed the LSA morphological indicators,including the number of trunks,number of branches,length,and tortuosity of the LSAs,on both hemispheres of the brain using 7 T TOF MRA images.Clinical data were analyzed using an independent samples t-test and Fisher's exact test.Two-way ANOVA was used to analyze the differences in LSA morphology between the groups and subgroups,and a paired t-test was used to compare the morphological differences between the affected and unaffected sides within the subgroups.Result The symptomatic group showed a reduction in both the number of LSA branches and tortuosity(both P＜0.05).In the asymptomatic group with severe stenosis,the number of LSA branches on the affected side was greater than on the unaffected side(P＜0.05).In the symptomatic group,the number of LSA branches and the length of the LSA on the affected side were smaller than those on the unaffected side.Among patients with severe stenosis in the symptomatic group,the tortuosity of the LSA on the affected side was smaller than that on the unaffected side(both P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in other morphological indicators of LSA between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Symptomatic MCA M1 segment stenosis leads to a reduction in the number of branches and the shortening of LSAs on the affected side,whereas severe stenosis does not necessarily reduce the number of LSA branches.