Intracranial ossifications and microangiopathy at 8 Tesla MRI

Clinical evaluation and MR imaging of microangiopathy associated with hyper tension is limited. We describe a case that illustrates sensitivity of MRI at 8 Tesla for imaging of microvasculature, iron, calcium deposits and sile nt white matter lesions (WML). A 60-year-old black hypertensive woman was e valuated for numbness in the face and extremities. MRI at 1.5 Tesla was unr evealing. MRI at 8 Tesla: Axial and sagittal Gradient Echo images were obtained with an 8T/80 cm human scanner and showed: 1) Large areas of signal voids due to ossifications and fat deposits within the falx. 2) Obstructed small vessel s in the periventricular regions and distended cortical veins. 3) Numerous small WML, suggestive of mini-infarcts (<1 cm) and microhemorrhages. 4) Int racranial calcifications in the falx, tentorium, basal ganglia and chorioid plexus that were confirmed by CT scan. Atherosclerotic plaque in right car otid artery and reduced vasomotor reserve in middle cerebral arteries, docu mented by ultrasound, indicated,large and small vessel disease. Conclusions: MRI at 8 Tesla improves visualization of microangiopathy, ossi fications and iron deposits due to enhanced magnetic susceptibility at ultr a high magnetic field.