MRA classification and imaging features of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia / 实用放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To improve the understanding of the vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD) by analyzing the MRA imaging features of VBD.Methods The data of 438 patients underwent MRA were analyzed in the study.The length and transverse deviation of the basilar arteries (BA) were measured for the diagnosis and classification of VBD.Of 438 patients, 342 patients were diagnosed as brain infarction (BI) by head MRI.All of the BI patients were divided into 2 groups (VBD and non-VBD) and the classifications of BI were compared between the two groups.Results Of 438 patients, 16 were diagnosed with VBD by MRA.According to the modality of VBD on MRA, VBD were classified into 4 types S type, U type, L type and spiral type.Among the 16 patients, there were 7 patients with S type, 5 patients with U type, 3 patients with L type and 1 patient with spiral type.S type had the highest incidence and the mildest symptom.The incidence of VBD in BI patients was 3.98%, and the incidence of BI in VBD patients was 2.1 times greater than that of patients without VBD (P<0.05).Conclusion VBD can be classified into 4 types according to the MRA results.The clinical symptoms are varied with different imaging features, and VBD is closely related to the posterior circulation ischemia, especially brainstem infarction.