Objective To explore the effect of combining a new MRI technique named basi-parallel anatomic
scanning (BPAS)-magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with time-of-flight (TOF)-MR angiography
(MRA) in the diagnosis of differentiating intracranial vertebrobasilar artery dissection (VBD).
Methods Radiologists and radiographer in the Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine,
Xi'an Jiaotong University explored and acquired BPAS scanning parameters suitable for 3.0-MR
scanning and image processing according to the screening criteria in the reference of BPAS. A total
of 142 patients who underwent BPAS-MR imaging and 3D TOF-MRA in inpatient and outpatient
neurology department, including clinical suspected diagnosis of 20 cases of VBD, 60 cases of
atherosclerotic narrowing, and 62 cases of hypoplastic arteries, were retrospectively analyzed. MRA
and BPAS images were analyzed by two readers blinded to the patients’ clinical data. Receiver
Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were performed to compare the capability of conventional
MRA with and without BPAS imaging in suspected VBD cases. The consistency of diagnosis
results of 2 observers were also evaluated.
Results The area under the curve was increased significantly by combining BPAS imaging findings
with MRA (0.93 vs 0.70, 0.96 vs 0.75, P <0.01, respectively by reader No.1 and No.2). In addition,
the sensitivity was 100% for both readers and significantly greater than MRA (55%, 60% for
both readers, P <0.01). However, specificities were not significantly different (86.89% vs 85.25%,
P =0.85; 92.62% vs 90.16%, P =0.65). The consistency of diagnosis results of 2 observers was
excellent (Kappa=0.85).
Conclusion Combining BPAS and MRA can accurately evaluate the intracranial vertebrobasilar
condition through revealing the surface appearance of artery, and differentiate VBD from
atherosclerosis or hypoplasia, and provide evidence for corresponding treatments.
