T1-Hyperintense Plaques on Intracranial-versus-Extracranial Vessel Wall MRI

摘要

We read with great interest the recent article by Zhu et al regarding the association between T1-hyperintensity of basilar artery stenosis as detected by intracranial vessel wall MR imaging, presumably intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), and cerebral infarction in the basilar artery territory. T1-hyperintense plaques as a marker of IPH have been validated in the extracranial carotid artery using carotid endarterectomy specimens and have been studied extensively in various populations. In contrast, data on similar lesions in intracranial arteries are rather limited. The study by Zhu et al highlighted the clinical relevance of T1-hyperintensity in intracranial atherosclerotic disease, which should call for further investigations of its etiology and pathophysiology, especially considering the similarities and differences compared with T1-hyperintensity in carotid artery disease.