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BMC Medical Imaging
Published in: BMC Medical Imaging 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging | Research article

Association between basilar artery configuration and Vessel Wall features: a prospective high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study

Authors: Ziqi Xu, Mingyao Li, Zhikai Hou, Jinhao Lyu, Na Zhang, Xin Lou, Zhongrong Miao, Ning Ma

Published in: BMC Medical Imaging | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

The relationship between intracranial vessel configuration and wall features remains poorly investigated. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the distal and proximal anatomical configuration of basilar artery (BA) and BA vessel wall features on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI).

Methods

From September 2014 to January 2017, patients with suspected symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis underwent HRMRI. Patients with severe BA stenosis were selected for this prospective study and divided into two groups corresponding to complete and incomplete BA configuration based on characteristics of the bilateral vertebral arteries and posterior cerebral arteries. Culprit blood vessel wall features on HRMRI included plaque enhancement, intraplaque hemorrhage, remodeling patterns, and plaque distribution. Culprit vessel wall features were compared between patients in the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups.

Results

Among the 298 consecutively enrolled patients, 34 had severe BA stenosis. Twenty patients had complete anatomical BA configuration and another 14 of them displayed incomplete configuration. There were no significant differences in vessel wall features between the complete and incomplete configuration patient groups. However, the proximal configuration of BA was associated with intraplaque hemorrhage (p = 0.002) while the distal configuration of BA correlated with strong enhancement of BA plaque (p = 0.041).

Conclusions

No association was found between the complete and incomplete BA configuration groups and blood vessel wall features. The proximal configuration of BA was related with intraplaque hemorrhage and the distal configuration of BA was associated with strong plaque enhancement. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Trial registration

URL: Unique identifier: NCT02705599 (March 10, 2016).
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Association between basilar artery configuration and Vessel Wall features: a prospective high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors
Ziqi Xu
Mingyao Li
Zhikai Hou
Jinhao Lyu
Na Zhang
Xin Lou
Zhongrong Miao
Ning Ma
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medical Imaging / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2342
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-019-0388-3

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