Reproducibility and variability of quantitative magnetic resonance imaging markers in cerebral small vessel disease

Brain imaging is essential for the diagnosis and characterization of cerebral small vessel disease. Several magnetic resonance imaging markers have therefore emerged, providing new information on the diagnosis, progression, and mechanisms of small vessel disease. Yet, the reproducibility of these small vessel disease markers has received little attention despite being widely used in cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. This review focuses on the main small vessel disease-related markers on magnetic resonance imaging including: white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, dilated perivascular spaces, microbleeds, and brain volume. The aim is to summarize, for each marker, what is currently known about: (1) its reproducibility in studies with a scan–rescan procedure either in single or multicenter settings; (2) the acquisition-related sources of variability; and, (3) the techniques used to minimize this variability. Based on the results, we discuss technical and other challenges that need to be overcome in order for these markers to be reliably used as outcome measures in future clinical trials. We also highlight the key points that need to be considered when designing multicenter magnetic resonance imaging studies of small vessel disease.

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Association of Key Magnetic Resonance Imaging Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease With Hematoma Volume and Expansion in Patients With Lobar and Deep Intracerebral Hemorrhage

JAMA Neurology ◽

10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.2619 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 73 (12) ◽

pp. 1440 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Gregoire Boulouis ◽

Ellis S. van Etten ◽

Andreas Charidimou ◽

Eitan Auriel ◽

Andrea Morotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

Small Vessel Disease ◽

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease ◽

Small Vessel ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Hematoma Volume ◽

Vessel Disease ◽

Imaging Markers

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Large Perivascular Spaces Visible on Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Progression, and Risk of Dementia

JAMA Neurology ◽

10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.1397 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 74 (9) ◽

pp. 1105 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Jie Ding ◽

Sigurður Sigurðsson ◽

Pálmi V. Jónsson ◽

Gudny Eiriksdottir ◽

Andreas Charidimou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Disease Progression ◽

Small Vessel Disease ◽

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease ◽

Small Vessel ◽

Perivascular Spaces ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Vessel Disease

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Relation between physical activity and cerebral small vessel disease: A nine-year prospective cohort study

International Journal of Stroke ◽

10.1177/1747493020984090 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174749302098409

Author(s):

Thijs RJ Landman ◽

Dick HJ Thijssen ◽

Anil M Tuladhar ◽

Frank-Erik de Leeuw

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Small Vessel Disease ◽

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease ◽

Small Vessel ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Vessel Disease ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Imaging Markers

Background and aims Given the unexplored potential of physical activity to reduce the progression of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD, the purpose of this study was to prospectively (across nine-year follow-up) examine the relation between (baseline) physical activity and the (clinical and imaging) consequences of the whole spectrum of cerebral small vessel disease. Methods Five hundred and three patients with cerebral small vessel disease from the RUNDMC study were followed for nine years. Physical activity was assessed using a questionnaire in 2006, 2011, and 2015. Clinical events (i.e. all-cause mortality, cerebrovascular events (by stroke subtype)) were collected with a structured questionnaire. Patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging scanning for the assessment of magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease (i.e. white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, and microbleeds) and microstructural integrity of the white matter at three timepoints. Results The mean age at baseline was 66 (SD 9.0) years; 44% were women. A higher baseline physical activity level was independently associated with a lower all-cause mortality (HR: 0.69, 95%CI: 0.49–0.98, p = 0.03) and incidence of cerebrovascular disease (HR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.36–0.96, p = 0.03). However, we found no relation between physical activity and incident lacunar stroke or progression of magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease. Conclusions Whilst regular physical activity was not related to the progression of magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease across a nine-year follow-up, results from our study prove that high levels of physical activity in patients with cerebral small vessel disease are associated with a lower all-cause mortality and lower incidence of cerebrovascular events.

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