Motivation: Middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis can affect the lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) which supply the basal ganglia. Goal(s): We aim to investigate whether there is a relationship between LSA morphological characteristics (LSA stems, branches, length, and tortuosity) and stroke occurrence in patients with MCA atherosclerotic stenosis at 7T. Approach: We found that patients with new stroke occurrence had fewer LSA branches and shorter LSA than those in patients without new stroke occurrence. Results: LSA branched and length are expected to serve as an imaging indicator for early diagnosis and personalized treatment of patients with MCA atherosclerotic stenosis. Impact: 3D TOF MRA at 7T can achieve subtle imaging of LSA, and the number of LSA branches and LSA length can serve as potential imaging morphological characteristics for predicting stroke occurrence MCA stenosis patients.
Li et al. (Tue,) studied this question.