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Corrêa DG, Pacheco FT, da Cruz LCH, Nunes RH, Maia ACM, de Souza Godoy LF, Bisolo L, da Silva NA, Soldatelli MD, de Siqueira Campos CM, Vedolin LM, do Amaral LLF, da Rocha AJ. Intracranial vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging features of infectious vasculitis. Clin Imaging 2023; 98:26-35. [PMID: 36996597 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2023.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Vasculitis is a complication of several infectious diseases affecting the central nervous system, which may result in ischemic and/or hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and aneurysm formation. The infectious agent may directly infect the endothelium, causing vasculitis, or indirectly affect the vessel wall through an immunological mechanism. The clinical manifestations of these complications usually overlap with those of non-infectious vascular diseases, making diagnosis challenging. Intracranial vessel wall magnetic resonance imaging (VWI) enables the evaluation of the vessel wall and the diseases that affect it, providing diagnostic data beyond luminal changes and enabling the identification of inflammatory changes in cerebral vasculitis. This technique demonstrates concentric vessel wall thickening and gadolinium enhancement, associated or not with adjacent brain parenchymal enhancement, in patients with vasculitis of any origin. It permits the detection of early alterations, even before a stenosis occurs. In this article, we review the intracranial vessel wall imaging features of infectious vasculitis of bacterial, viral, and fungal etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo Goulart Corrêa
- Department of Radiology, Clínica de Diagnóstico por Imagem (CDPI)/DASA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Department of Radiology, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Felipe Torres Pacheco
- Department of Neuroradiology, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Radiology, DASA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Renato Hoffmann Nunes
- Department of Neuroradiology, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Radiology, DASA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Antônio Carlos Martins Maia
- Department of Neuroradiology, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Radiology, Fleury, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Louise Bisolo
- Department of Radiology, Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nivaldo Adolfo da Silva
- Department of Radiology, DASA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Radiology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Leonardo Modesti Vedolin
- Department of Radiology, DASA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Radiology, Hospital de Clínicas de Porta Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Antônio José da Rocha
- Department of Neuroradiology, Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Radiology, DASA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Diagnosis and follow-up evaluation of central nervous system vasculitis: an evaluation of vessel-wall MRI findings. J Neurol 2021; 269:982-996. [PMID: 34236502 PMCID: PMC8264821 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10683-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Objective To approach the clinical value of MRI with vessel wall imaging (VWI) in patients with central nervous system vasculitis (CNSV), we analyzed patterns of VWI findings both at the time of initial presentation and during follow-up. Methods Stenoocclusive lesions, vessel-wall contrast enhancement (VW-CE) and diffusion-restricted lesions were analyzed in patients with a diagnosis of CNSV. On available VWI follow-up, progression, regression or stability of VW-CE were evaluated and correlated with the clinical status. Results Of the 45 patients included, 28 exhibited stenoses visible on MR angiography (MRA-positive) while 17 had no stenosis (MRA-negative). VW-CE was found in 2/17 MRA-negative and all MRA-positive patients (p < 0.05). 79.1% (53/67) of stenoses showed VW-CE. VW-CE was concentric in 88.3% and eccentric in 11.7% of cases. Diffusion-restricted lesions were found more frequently in relation to stenoses with VW-CE than without VW-CE (p < 0.05). 48 VW-CE lesions in 23 patients were followed over a median time of 239.5 days. 13 VW-CE lesions (27.1%) resolved completely, 14 (29.2%) showed partial regression, 17 (35.4%) remained stable and 4 (8.3%) progressed. 22/23 patients received immunosuppressive therapy for the duration of follow-up. Patients with stable or progressive VW-CE were more likely (p < 0.05) to have a relapse (14/30 cases) than patients with partial or complete regression of VW-CE (5/25 cases). Conclusion Concentric VW-CE is a common finding in medium/large-sized vessel CNSV. VW-CE might represent active inflammation in certain situations. However, follow-up VWI findings proved ambiguous as persisting VW-CE despite immunosuppressive therapy and clinical remission was a frequent finding. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00415-021-10683-7.
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Arnett N, Pavlou A, Burke MP, Cucchiara BL, Rhee RL, Song JW. Vessel wall MR imaging of central nervous system vasculitis: a systematic review. Neuroradiology 2021; 64:43-58. [PMID: 33938989 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-021-02724-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Beyond vessel wall enhancement, little is understood about vessel wall MR imaging (VW-MRI) features of vasculitis affecting the central nervous system (CNS). We reviewed vessel wall MR imaging patterns of inflammatory versus infectious vasculitis and also compared imaging patterns for intracranial versus extracranial arteries of the head and neck. METHODS Studies reporting vasculitis of the CNS/head and neck and included MR imaging descriptions of vessel wall features were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and EMBASE up to June 10, 2020. From 6065 publications, 115 met the inclusion criteria. Data on study characteristics, vasculitis type, MR details, and VW-MRI descriptions were extracted. RESULTS Studies used VW-MRI for inflammatory (64%), infectious (17%), or both inflammatory and infectious vasculitides (19%). Vasculitis affecting intracranial versus extracranial arteries were reported in 58% and 39% of studies, respectively. Commonly reported VW-MRI features were vessel wall enhancement (89%), thickening (72%), edema (10%), and perivascular enhancement (16%). Inflammatory vasculitides affecting the intracranial arteries were less frequently reported to have vessel wall thickening (p = 0.006) and perivascular enhancement (p = 0.001) than extracranial arteries. Varicella zoster/herpes simplex vasculitis (VZV/HSV, 45%) and primary angiitis of the CNS (PACNS, 22%) were the most commonly reported CNS infectious and inflammatory vasculitides, respectively. Patients with VZV/HSV vasculitis more frequently showed decreased or resolution of vessel wall enhancement after therapy compared to PACNS (89% versus 59%). CONCLUSIONS To establish imaging biomarkers of vessel wall inflammation in the CNS, VW-MRI features of vasculitis accounting for disease mechanism and anatomy should be better understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Arnett
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Athanasios Pavlou
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Morgan P Burke
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Brett L Cucchiara
- Department of Neurology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rennie L Rhee
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jae W Song
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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MR vessel wall imaging in tubercular meningitis. Neuroradiology 2021; 63:1627-1634. [PMID: 33638692 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-021-02678-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tubercular meningitis (TBM) has the propensity to cause secondary vasculitis through various mechanisms leading to development of cerebrovascular complications. These vascular involvements can be detected by vessel wall imaging (VWI). In this study, we aimed to study detailed findings of vessel wall imaging in cases of tubercular meningitis. METHODS All consecutive patients of suspected tubercular meningitis in whom diagnosis of TBM could be made according to diagnostic criteria given by Ahuja et al. were included in the study. High-resolution MR VWI and time of flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were done along with routine MRI sequences. Arteries up to second-order branches were studied, and statistical analyses were done with respect to stage of tubercular meningitis, infarctions and TOF MRA findings. RESULTS Out of all 101 cases of TBM, infarctions were found in 49 cases (48.5%), and vessel wall enhancement was seen in 67 cases (66.3%). With increasing severity of disease, more severe vascular involvement was seen on VWI. There was significant association between enhancement of individual arteries and infarctions in their territories. VWI had better sensitivity than the MRA, while MRA had better specificity than VWI for detection of vascular complications. CONCLUSION Tubercular vasculitis can be detected by VWI in the form of nodular or smooth segmental enhancement of vessel wall with or without stenosis. Incorporation of VWI in routine MR imaging can play a greater role in early detection and management of cerebrovascular complications which can help to improve prognosis of the disease.
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