Spontaneous dissecting hemorrhage of cervical intracranial arteries

The diagnosis of spontaneous dissection of vertebral and carotid arteries is based mainly on angiographic data. MR imaging was performed within 8 days to 2 weeks after suspicion of dissection of cervical intracranial arteries in 15 patients. Results correlated with angiographic data show findings suggestive of vertebral artery dissection in seven cases and carotid artery dissection in eight cases. MR imaging was performed at 0.5 T and showed semicircumferential hyperintensity narrowing the arterial lumen on different sequences and echos in 12 patients. This corresponded to mural hematoma. In three other patients the authors have observed a partial flow void, probably corresponding to a partially recanalized vessel. These results in the subacute stage are promising