Analysis of plaque characteristics between small and large infarction lesions in the middle cerebral artery territory using 3.0T high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging technology
ZHANG Fengling
ZHANG Ping
ZHANG Yanli
FU Yan
YANG Dandan
LIU Jiabao
Abstract：Objective To analyze the plaque characteristics between small and large infarction lesions in the middle cerebral artery territory using 3.0T high-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging(HR-VW-MRI)technology.Methods The clinical data of 63 patients with acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory who were admitted to Beijing Geriatric Hospital from December 2021 to December 2024 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the manifestations of diffusion-weighted imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient,the patients were divided into small subcortical infarction(SSI)group(42 patients)and large subcortical infarction(LSI)group(21 patients).All the patients underwent HR-VW-MRI examination.The number of quadrants with plaque formation,distribution of plaque locations on blood vessel walls,intraplaque hemorrhage,plaque burden(PB),vascular remodeling patterns at the plaque site,and the degree of vascular stenosis at the plaque site were observed in both groups.Results Among the 42 patients in the SSI group,34 patients were detected with plaques,totalling 34 plaques.All 21 patients in the LSI group were detected with plaques,totalling 21 plaques.There was statistically significant difference in the number of quadrants with plaque formatin between the two groups(P＜0.05),with a higher proportion of the plaques involving only one quadrant in the SSI group.The proportion of intraplaque hemorrhage in the LSI group was higher than that in the SSI group,and the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in PB between the two groups(P＞0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of plaque locations on blood vessel walls between the two groups(P＞0.05),and the plaques in both groups were most commonly found on the ventral and superior abdominal walls,followed by those found on the dorsal abdominal walls,and the plaques on the inferior abdominal walls were the least common.There were no statistically significant differences in vascular remodeling patterns at the plaque site between the two groups(P＞0.05),and more than half of the plaques exhibited positive remodeling.There was statistically significant difference in the degree of vascular stenosis at the plaque site between the two groups(P＜0.05),with a higher proportion of mild vascular stenosis at the plaque site in the SSI group and a higher proportion of moderate to severe vascular stenosis at the plaque site in the LSI group.Conclusion There are significant differences in plaque characteristics between SSI and LSI.Compared with those in the LSI area,the plaques in the SSI area are in a more limited involvement range,and have a lesser degree of vascular stenosis at the plaque site,and a lower proportion of intraplaque hemorrhage.
Keywords：Small subcortical infarction(SSI)Large subcortical infarction(LSI)High-resolution vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging(HR-VW-MRI)Intracranial atherosclerosis
Publication Date：2025-12-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-01-16(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 1391-1395 )