Vascular Imaging

This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of vascular anatomy and advanced MRI techniques for diagnosing neurovascular diseases. It begins by establishing a strong foundation in the arterial and venous anatomy of the brain and spinal cord, including critical structures such as the Circle of Willis and the Artery of Adamkiewicz. The lecture then details various imaging methods, including Time-of-Flight (TOF) MRA, Phase Contrast, and Vessel Wall MRI, and explains their unique strengths in identifying conditions such as strokes, aneurysms, and vasculitis. The lecture concludes with practical MRI protocols and key clinical guidelines to assist in effective diagnosis and surgical planning.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lecture, students will be able to:

• Identify major arterial and venous structures in the brain and spinal cord through imaging
• Understand the physical principles and clinical applications of different MRA techniques (TOF, Phase Contrast, Contrast-Enhanced)
• Distinguish between large vessel and small vessel disease in stroke cases using MRI
• Differentiate between various vascular pathologies, such as atherosclerosis versus vasculitis, using Vessel Wall MRI.
• Evaluate the stability and rupture risk of intracranial aneurysms based on wall enhancement patterns.
• Apply specific MRI protocols for intracranial and spinal vascular assessments in a clinical setting.