High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Vessel Wall Imaging of Chronic Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion

Abstract A 61-year-old woman was admitted due to right limb weakness and newly-diagnosed atrial fibrillation. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Angiography showed progression of the infarcts and occlusion of part of the internal carotid artery (ICA) respectively. T1-weighted high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HRMRI) was conducted after 14 months of medical treatment, showing vessel wall thickness and enhancement that resembled the appearance of vasculitis. This case shows that HRMRI could characterize the morphology of luminal thrombi and vessel wall of chronic intracranial ICA occlusion, which provides a potential tool for investigating the aetiology of stroke due to ICA occlusions.