Evaluation of Vascular Malformations on SWI in Patients Presented with Acute Stroke in 3T MRI

Abstract

Background: Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) had high spatial resolution 3D gradient-echo MRI sequence with phase post-processing that accentuates the paramagnetic properties of blood products.Aim: Significance of SWI sequence in detecting occult vascular lesions in patients with acute stroke.Method: A prospective study of 75 patients done in the department of Radio-diagnosis at tertiary care centre. Patients who were having symptoms of stroke and suspected vascular malformations of the brain were advised MRI Brain. Stroke Profile with SWAN, FLAIR, DWI & ADC done on 3T MR machine. SWI images were retrospectively examined by 2 independent radiologists. Their findings were then compared to study the efficacy of SWI in better detection and characterization of lesions.Results: Of 75 cases, 61 had microbleeds, 9 patients had cavernomas, venous angiomas in 4 patients and Arterio-venous malformation in one patient. SWI was highly sensitive and specific towards the detection of vascular malformations of the brain. Conclusion: SWI images are fast sequences requiring not more than a total scan time of about 3 minutes. Inclusion of this sequence as a part of brain pathology can play an important role in diagnosing different brain lesions without missing hemorrhagic lesions thus avoiding inappropriate therapeutics.