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Lv B, Ran Y, Lv J, Lou X, Tian C. Individualized interpretation for the clinical significance of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vessel hyperintensity in ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack: A systematic narrative review. Eur J Radiol 2023; 166:111010. [PMID: 37523872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vessel hyperintensity(FVH)refers to the hyperintensity corresponding to the arteries in the subarachnoid space. It is caused by critically slowed blood flow and is commonly encountered in patients with large artery steno-occlusions. Quite a few studies have focused on the clinical significance of FLAIR vessel hyperintensity in terms of its relationship to the prognosis of transient ischemic attack (TIA), baseline severity or infarction volume, early neurological deterioration or infarction growth, and functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, inconsistent or conflicting findings were common in these studies and caused confusion in the clinical decision-making process guided by this imaging marker. Through reviewing the available studies on the etiologic mechanism of FVH and investigating findings on its clinical significance in AIS and TIA, this review aims to elucidate the key factors for interpreting the clinical significance of FVH individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Lv
- Department of Neurology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No.28, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Ye Ran
- Department of Neurology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No.28, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jinhao Lv
- Department of Radiology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No.28, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xin Lou
- Department of Radiology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No.28, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Chenglin Tian
- Department of Neurology, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, No.28, Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China.
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Zhu L, Jiang F, Wang M, Zhai Q, Zhang Q, Wang F, Mao X, Chen N, Zhou J, Xi G, Shi Y. Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Vascular Hyperintensity as a Potential Predictor for the Prognosis of Acute Stroke Patients After Intravenous Thrombolysis. Front Neurosci 2022; 15:808436. [PMID: 35145376 PMCID: PMC8823327 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.808436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundFluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensity (FVH) can reflect the collateral status, which may be a valuable indicator to predict the functional outcome of acute stroke (AS) patients.MethodsA total of 190 AS patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) were retrospectively investigated. All patients completed a 6-month follow-up and their modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were recorded at 1, 3, and 6 months after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Based on their mRS at 3 months, patients were divided into two groups: poor prognosis (131 patients; 68.9% of all subjects) and favorable prognosis (59 patients; 31.1% of all subjects). The death records of 28 patients were also analyzed in the poor prognosis group.Results(1) Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that the higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, higher fasting blood glucose, and lower FVH score were independent risk factors to predict the poor prognosis of IVT. (2) Survival analysis indicated that FVH score was the only baseline factor to predict the 6-month survival after IVT. (3) Baseline FVH score had great prediction performance for the prognosis of IVT (area under the curve = 0.853). (4) Baseline FVH score were negatively correlated with the NIHSS score at discharge and mRS score at 1, 3, and 6 months.ConclusionAmong various baseline clinical factors, only the FVH score might have implications for 3-month outcome and 6-month survival of AS patients after IVT. Baseline FVH score showed great potential to predict the prognosis of the AS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fuping Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Zhai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Xuqiang Mao
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Nihong Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Junshan Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guangjun Xi
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- *Correspondence: Guangjun Xi,
| | - Yachen Shi
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
- Yachen Shi,
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Zeng L, Chen J, Liao H, Wang Q, Xie M, Wu W. Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery Vascular Hyperintensity in Cerebrovascular Disease: A Review for Radiologists and Clinicians. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 13:790626. [PMID: 34975459 PMCID: PMC8716740 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.790626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroradiological methods play important roles in neurology, especially in cerebrovascular diseases. Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensity (FVH) is frequently encountered in patients with acute ischemic stroke and significant intracranial arterial stenosis or occlusion. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the clinical implications of FVH have been a matter of debate. FVH is associated with large-vessel occlusion or severe stenosis, as well as impaired hemodynamics. Possible explanations suggested for its appearance include stationary blood and slow antegrade or retrograde filling of the leptomeningeal collateral circulation. However, the prognostic value of the presence of FVH has been controversial. FVH can also be observed in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA), which may have different pathomechanisms. Its presence can help clinicians to identify patients who have a higher risk of stroke after TIA. In this review article, we aim to describe the mechanism and influencing factors of FVH, as well as its clinical significance in patients with cerebrovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichuan Zeng
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinxin Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Huaqiang Liao
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qu Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingguo Xie
- Department of Radiology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Department of Geriatrics, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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Kamr WH, Almalki MS, Saadawy AMI, El-Tahan A. FLAIR vascular hyperintensity, an early sign of stroke (case report). THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s43055-021-00627-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Generally, Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) is known to be more sensitive in diagnosis of acute stroke than other MR sequences. However, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR sequence founded to be sometimes more sensitive compared to DWI for the diagnosis of hyperacute stroke.
Case presentation
An 84 years old female patient brought to ER by ambulance due to loss of speech, dizziness and confusion. Neurological examination showed that the patient can raise her left hand and leg while partially moving her right hand and right leg. The patient had slurred speech. Provisional diagnosis was acute stroke and the patient admitted in the hospital. Non contrast CT scan of the brain was done, was negative for stroke. Then MRI was done showed no areas of restricted diffusion at the DWI sequence or ADC map. Prominent high signal vessels at the left temporal region and on Sylvian fissure were noticed on FLAIR sequence that might have suggested early sign of ischemic vascular insult.
Conclusions
Arterial hyperintensity on FLAIR images can precede diffusion abnormalities and may provide a clue to the early detection of impending infarction.
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Interpretation of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensity in stroke. J Neuroradiol 2021; 49:258-266. [PMID: 33515596 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2021.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) vascular hyperintensity (FVH) is a common presentation on brain magnetic resonance images of patients with acute ischemic stroke. This sign is known as a sluggish collateral flow. Although FVH represents the large ischemic penumbra and collateral circulation, the clinical significance of FVH has not been established. Varying protocols for FLAIR, treatment differences, and heterogeneity of endpoints across studies have complicated the interpretation of FVH in patients with acute stroke. In this review article, we describe the mechanism of FVH, as well as its association with functional outcome, perfusion-weighted images, and large artery stenosis. In addition, we review the technological variables that affect FVH and discuss the future perspectives.
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