Role of MRI in cerebral microbleeds and lacunar infarction

Objective: To study the correlation between cerebral microbleeds(CMBs) and lacunar infarction by MRI of the brain.Methods: All of 284 cases were examined brain MRI included SWI sequence.The MRI features of CMBs and lacunar infarction(location/number) were analyzed.The lesion numbers of CMBs and lacunar infarction were counted,including IT areas,DGM areas,CSC areas.Then,the grades according to the disease numbers of each area were classified.The grade according to the disease total numbers of brain was also classified.The prevalence of CMBs and lacunar infarction according to age was counted and the correlation in disease location and grade between CMBs and lacunar infarction were analysed.The data was analyzed with SPSS13.0 computer software.Results: there were 215 cases of lacunar infarction in 284 subjects,97 patients with CMBs,with the incidence of lacunar CMBs patients about 40%.CMBs,the number of lacunar infarction were 1~93,1~41 range.CMBs and lacunar infarction have common location:CSC areas(rs=0.450,P=0.004),DGM area(rs=0.406,P=0.000).The lesion grade of CMBs will increase with the lesion grade of lacunar infarction of three areas(P=0.000).There was a significant correlation between CMBs and lacunar infarction all of areas in brain(P=0.000).The prevalence of CMBs and lacunar infarction will increase with the patient age increase.Conclusion: MRI routine sequences with SWI sequence could detect lacunar infarction and CMBs,and could afford a more scientific guidance in diagnosis,treatment,follow-up observation and prognosis of cerebral vascular diseases.