Isolated Middle Cerebral Artery Stenotic Disease

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Middle cerebral artery (MCA) steno-occlusive disease is known to be more common in Eastern than in Western, however, clinical characteristics have not been well documented. We aimed to find clinical characteristics of isolated MCA disease comparing with other MCA steno-occlusive disease. METHODS: Patients with lesion in M1 portion of MCA divided into three groups by angiographic finding ; isolated MCA stenosis (IMCAS, n=39), isolated MCA occlusion (IMCAO, n=29), and multiple (ICA, BA or VA) steno-occlusion involving MCA (Combined, n=48). Patients with evidence of cardioembolic MCA occlusion and Moyamoya disease were excluded. We analyzed clinical features, neuroimaging findings, and prognosis retrospectively. RESULTS: MRI showed large deep (36%), small deep (26%), cortical (21%), and mixed (cortical & deep, 15%) infarct in IMCAS group ; mixed (38%), large deep (21%), small deep (17%), and cortical (17%) infarct in IMCAO group ; large deep (31%), cortical (23%), small deep (17%), and no lesion (17%) in Combined group. Site of MCA steno-occlusion on angiogram was middle (44%), distal (39%), and proximal (18%) in IMCAS group ; proximal (48%), middle (35%), and distal (17%) in IMCAO group ; middle (42%), proximal (31%), and distal (27%) in Combined group. Patient's neurologic status, assessed by NIHSS, during first 7 days was 'not changed' or 'worsening' (>93%) in all 3 groups. Neurologic outcome at 3 months later was improving (65%) in IMCAS group by modified Rankin scale. CONCLUSIONS: Isolated MCA stenotic disease was not significantly different from iso-lated MCA occlusion group or Combined group in clinical features, neuroimaging findings, and prognosis.