Cerebral microbleeds: Causes, clinical relevance, and imaging approach - A narrative review.
Amit AgarwalPranav AjmeraPreetika SharmaSangam KanekarPublished in: Journal of neurosciences in rural practice (2024)
With advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences, there has been increased identification of microbleed/microhemorrhage across different population ages, but more commonly in the older age group. These are defined as focal areas of signal loss on gradient echo MRI sequences (T2* and susceptibility-weighted images), which are usually <5 mm in size representing hemosiderin deposition with wide ranges of etiologies. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) has become a routine MRI sequence for practices across the globe resulting in better identification of these entities. Over the past decade, there has been a better understanding of the clinical significance of microbleeds including their prognostic value in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and hypertension are the two most common causes of microbleeds following peripheral and central pattern, respectively. In the younger age group, microbleeds are more common due to familial conditions or a wide range of hypercoagulable states. This review outlines the pathophysiology, prevalence, and clinical implications of cerebral microhemorrhage along with a brief discussion about the technical considerations of SWI.
Keyphrases
- contrast enhanced
- magnetic resonance imaging
- diffusion weighted
- diffusion weighted imaging
- magnetic resonance
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- computed tomography
- cerebral ischemia
- high resolution
- blood pressure
- healthcare
- risk factors
- brain injury
- deep learning
- primary care
- atrial fibrillation
- early onset
- physical activity
- ischemia reperfusion injury
- genetic diversity
- oxidative stress
- fluorescence imaging
- network analysis
- machine learning