Using High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Estimate Distensibility of the Middle Cerebral Artery

Neurodegener Dis. 2016;16(5-6):407-10. doi: 10.1159/000446397. Epub 2016 Jul 23.

Abstract

Background: Although cerebral arterial stiffness may be an important marker for cerebrovascular health, there is not yet a measurement that accurately reflects the distensibility of major intracranial arteries. Herein, we aim to noninvasively measure distension of the human middle cerebral artery (MCA).

Methods: Ten healthy volunteers (age: 30.3 ± 10.8 years) underwent ultra-high-field (7-tesla) MRI scanning. Time-of-flight angiography and phase-contrast flow imaging were used to locate the M1 segment of the MCA and to determine the occurrence of systole and diastole. High-resolution cross-sectional cardiac triggered T2-weighted images of the M1 segment of the MCA were acquired in systole and diastole.

Results: The average distension of the MCA area from diastole to systole was 2.58% (range: 0.08%-6.48%). There was no significant correlation between MCA distension and the pulsatility index, calculated from the phase-contrast flow velocity profiles.

Conclusion: These results lead to the first noninvasive image-based estimation of distensibility of the MCA (approx. 5.8 × 10-4 mm Hg-1) and demonstrate that ultra-high-field MRI could be a promising tool for investigating distensibility of intracranial arteries in relation to cerebrovascular pathology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Elasticity
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging*
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / physiology*
  • Pulsatile Flow