J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 21(1); 2003 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 2003;21(1): 27-31.

뇌졸중 환자의 경사에코 자기공명영상에서 관찰되는 다병소 저신호 강도 병변과 백질 변화의 관련성

박진국 , 최영빈 이승재 양동원 정성우 김범생

가톨릭대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

"Correlation between Multifocal Hypointense Cerebral Lesions on Gradient-echo MRI and White Matter Changes in Patients with Stroke"

Jin-Kook Park

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea

Abstract

"Background : The multifocal hypointense cerebral lesions (MHCLs) on gradient echo (GE)-MRI and white matter changes on T2WI have been thought to be indicative of microangiopathy. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between MHCLs and white matter (WM) changes and the clinical significance of WM changes in stroke patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed MRI and clinical data of 115 patients with stroke (56 female and 59 male). Periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensity (PVHI and DWMHI) were measured by semiquantative rat-ing scale proposed by M?ntyla. The round, hypointense signal, less than 7 mm in diameter on GE-MRI were counted as MHCLs. The association between risk factors of stroke and MHCLs on GE-MRI and sum of the white matter change scores and total number of MHCLs were analyzed, respectively. Results : MHCLs on GE-MRI were significantly asso -ciated with old age (p<0.05) and hypertension (p<0.001) among risk factors of stroke. The distribution of MHCLs in subcortical area is associated with hypertension (p<0.05) and total number of MHCLs was significantly associated with sum of the white matter change scores (p<0.05). Conclusions : MHCLs on GE-MRI were significantly associated with severity of WM changes. Severe WM change may be an indicator of advanced small artery disease of the brain with an increased risk factor for bleeding. This should be taken into consideration when treating patients with stroke.Key Words : Multifocal hypointense cerebral lesions, Hypertension, Gradient echo-MRI, White matter changes"