Intracranial artery stenosis magnetic resonance imaging and relationship with some risk factors and causes of cerebral vascular stenosis

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to describe the characteristics of cerebral artery stenosis on MRI and the relationship with some risk factors and causes of cerebral artery stenosis.
Method: Cross-sectional descriptive study from 104 patients with images of intracranial artery stenosis using 3T MRI, from June 2021 to June 2022 at Bach Mai hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Results: The average age is 64.71 ± 14.08, the age group ≥60 accounts for the highest proportion of 76%, the male/female ratio is ~ 2.58:1. 27 patients (26%) had from two or more narrowing arteries. Stenosis is common in the anterior circulation (66.4%), the ratio posterior/anterior circulation ~ 2:1. ICA and MCA are the most affected (33,6% & 29,3%, respectively), ACA is the least affected (3,6%). In anterior circulation, moderate stenosis accounts for the highest rate (33.6%; p=0.008), arterial occlusion is relatively high in cases of stenosis in the posterior circulation (38.2%; p= 0.409). Eccentric stenosis is the highest (79/140; 56.4%),
followed by occlusion (39/140, 27.8%), concentric stenosis (22/140; 15.8%) (p =0.135). Among risk factors, arterial hypertension increases the rate of stenosis by 2,840 times (p = 0.031, 95% CI [1,099;7,340]) and the rate of atherosclerosis by 3,102 times (p = 0.012), 95% CI [1.254;7.675]). Atherosclerosis is the main cause of arterial stenosis and occlusion (0.52%); followed by the undetermined cause (19.3%), vasospasm (15%), and MoyaMoya (5.7%). Brain parenchymal damage has the highest rate in stenosis and occlusion due to atherosclerosis (74%, p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Cerebral vascular stenosis is common in the anterior circulation, mainly in the ICA and MCA. Atherosclerosis is a common cause of cerebral artery stenosis in both the anterior and posterior circulation. Arterial hypertension is a risk factor for cerebral artery stenosis.