Efficacy of Magnetic Resonance Contrast-Enhanced Vessel Wall Imaging as an Ancillary Examination for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage With Bleeding Points Difficult to Determine on Conventional Vascular Imaging: A Report of Three Cases

Here, we have demonstrated the efficacy of magnetic resonance contrast-enhanced vessel wall imaging (CE-VWI) as an ancillary examination for subarachnoid hemorrhage with bleeding points difficult to confirm by conventional vascular imaging. Case 1 had a ruptured small aneurysm with a size of 1.8 x 1.1 mm at the origin of left anterior choroidal artery. CE-VWI showed enhancement of the apex of the aneurysm. Surgical clipping was performed by a mini-clip. In Case 2, a ruptured small aneurysm, 2.1 x 1.9 mm, was detected at right middle cerebral artery bifurcation. CE-VWI showed enhancement of the aneurysmal wall. Endovascular coil embolization was performed. In Case 3, irregular dilatation of left internal carotid artery (ICA) was detected. CE-VWI demonstrated enhancement of the dilatation wall. The lesion was deemed to be a dissection of the ICA or a blood blister-like aneurysm. Endovascular treatment using intracranial stent placement was performed, and the patient has had no rebleeding events for one and a half years. In all cases, conventional vascular imaging detected scanty morphological changes, and CE-VWI information provided reliable confirmation of the lesions as bleeding points.