AUTHOR=Xu Zhihua , Tong Zhenhua , Duan Yang , Xing Dengxiang , Song Hongyan , Pei Yusong , Yang Benqiang 

TITLE=Diffusion- and Susceptibility Weighted Imaging Mismatch Correlates With Collateral Circulation and Prognosis After Middle Cerebral Artery M1-Segment Occlusion

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.660529

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.660529

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objective:</bold> To explore the relation between diffusion-weighted and susceptibility weighted imaging (DWI-SWI) mismatch and collateral circulation or prognosis in patients with occluded M1 segments of middle cerebral artery (MCA).</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We enrolled 59 patients with MCA M1-segment occlusion for a retrospective review of baseline clinical and imaging data. As markers of circulatory collaterals, prominent laterality of posterior (PLPCA) and anterior (PLACA) cerebral arteries on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) studies and a hyperintense vessel sign (HVS) on T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images were collectively scored. The extent of acute cerebral infarction was then quantified on DWI, using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (DWI-ASPECTS). Hypointensity vessel sign prominence (PVS) was also evaluated by SWI and similarly scored (SWI-ASPECT) to calculate DWI-SWI mismatch [(DWI-ASPECTS) – (SWI-ASPECTS)], ranging from −10 to 10 points.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> DWI-SWI mismatch showed significant associations with PLPCA, PLACA, HVS prominence, and collective collateral scores (all, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), DWI-SWI mismatch, and DWI-ASPECTS also differed significantly according to patient prognosis (good vs. poor) after MCA M1-segment occlusion (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). In binary logistic regression analyses, NIHSS and DWI-SWI mismatch emerged as independent prognostic factors (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05).</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Collateral circulation may be an important aspect of DWI-SWI mismatch, which in this study correlated with prognostic outcomes of MCA M1-segment occlusion.</p>