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

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) frequently have small areas of signal loss on gradient-echo T2*-weigh ted MR images, which have been suggested to represent remnants of previous microbleeds. Our aim was to provide histopathologic support for this assump tion and to clarify whether the presence and location of microbleeds were a ssociated with microangiopathy, METHODS: We performed MR imaging and correlative histopathologic examinatio n 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 bas al ganglia/thalami in five, and infratentorially in three specimens. Histop athologic examination showed focal hemosiderin deposition in 21 of 34 areas of MR signal loss. No other corresponding abnormalities were found; howeve r, hemosiderin deposits were noted without MR signal changes in two brains. All specimens with MR foci of signal loss showed moderate to severe fibroh yalinosis, and there was additional evidence of amyloid angiopathy in two o f 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.