ABSTRACT
Object To compare images of the vessel wall between symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaques of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR MRI).Methods HR MRI data were acquired in 36 patients with MCA atherosclerotic stenosis (≥50％) confirmed by MRA, CTA, of whom, 25 symptomatic patients and 11 asymptomatic ones were enrolled into a symptomatic group and an asymptomatic group respectively. The wall thickness and cross-sectional area of stenotic segments were measured and compared between the two groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 statistical software.Results The cross-sectional area in the symptomatic group was (3.04±1.03)mm2,while the asymptomatic group was (3.28±0.96)mm2, and the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). The symptomatic group had a larger wall thickness ((2.32±0.61)mm) when compared with the asymptomatic group ((2.10±0.77)mm), and higher prevalence of plaque enhancement after contrast injection (83.3％).Conclusion Different vessel wall properties on HR MRI are observed between symptomatic and asymptomatic MCA stenosis. Symptomatic MCA stenosis has a larger wall thickness and higher prevalence of plaque enhancement after contrast injection when compared with the asymptomatic.