Intracranial high-resolution vessel wall imaging in differentiating intraluminal basilar artery thrombus from arterial dissection

Abstract

Intracranial high-resolution vessel wall MRI (vwMRI) is a noninvasive imaging protocol to view intracranial intramural abnormalities with a growing array of indications. There is ongoing study in the use of vwMRI on intraluminal pathology. Given the devastating clinical implications of basilar artery pathology, rapid and accurate diagnosis is key to limiting morbidity and mortality. Herein we describe a case in which vwMRI assisted in differentiating an intraluminal basilar thrombus from arterial dissection following clinical worsening of a patient on appropriate anticoagulation.

Keywords

• Cerebrovascular disease
• Intracranial arterial diseases
• Stroke
• Imaging