RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Histopathologic Analysis of Foci of Signal Loss on Gradient-Echo T2*-Weighted MR Images in Patients with Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Evidence of Microangiopathy-Related Microbleeds
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 637
OP 642
VO 20
IS 4
A1 Franz Fazekas
A1 Reinhold Kleinert
A1 Gudrun Roob
A1 Gertrude Kleinert
A1 Peter Kapeller
A1 Reinhold Schmidt
A1 Hans-Peter Hartung
YR 1999
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/4/637.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) frequently have small areas of signal loss on gradient-echo T2*-weighted MR images, which have been suggested to represent remnants of previous microbleeds. Our aim was to provide histopathologic support for this assumption and to clarify whether the presence and location of microbleeds were associated with microangiopathy.METHODS: We performed MR imaging and correlative histopathologic examination in 11 formalin-fixed brains of patients who had died of an ICH (age range, 45–90 years).RESULTS: Focal areas of signal loss on MR images were noted in seven brains. They were seen in a corticosubcortical location in six brains, in the basal ganglia/thalami in five, and infratentorially in three specimens. Histopathologic examination showed focal hemosiderin deposition in 21 of 34 areas of MR signal loss. No other corresponding abnormalities were found; however, hemosiderin deposits were noted without MR signal changes in two brains. All specimens with MR foci of signal loss showed moderate to severe fibrohyalinosis, and there was additional evidence of amyloid angiopathy in two of those brains.CONCLUSION: Small areas of signal loss on gradient echo T2*-weighted images indicate previous extravasation of blood and are related to bleeding-prone microangiopathy of different origins.