Abstract
SUMMARY: Vascular hyperintensities have been noted on FLAIR sequences obtained in the setting of acute stroke and intracranial steno-occlusive disease. The presence of FVHs likely represents disordered blood flow, often from collaterals distal to arterial occlusion or stenosis. As opposed to other vessel signs seen in arterial insufficiency, FVH is unique in that it does not represent thrombus, but rather sluggish or disordered blood flow through vessels. This review will discuss the diagnostic and prognostic value of FVH and its impact on clinical decision-making.
Abbreviations
- DWI
- diffusion-weighted imaging
- FLAIR
- fluid-attenuated inversion recovery
- FVH
- FLAIR vascular hyperintensity
- GRE-BA
- gradient-echo susceptibility vessel blooming artifacts
- HMCAS
- hyperdense MCA sign seen on CT
- HVS
- hyperintense vessel sign
- MCA
- middle cerebral artery
- MRA
- MR angiography
- MRI
- MR imaging
- NIHSS
- National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale
- PWI
- perfusion-weighted imaging
- rtPA
- recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
- TOF
- time of flight
- TIA
- transient ischemic attacks
- © 2011 by American Journal of Neuroradiology
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