Basi-Parallel Anatomical Scanning (BPAS) — MRI: A Simple and Useful MRI Technique for Pre-Procedural Evaluation in Cases of Basilar Artery Occlusion

Abstract

Basi-parallel anatomical scanning (BPAS)-MRI is a simple MRI technique that we designed to reveal the surface appearance of the vertebrobasilar artery within the cistern. Because it requires only 2 cm-thick heavily T2-weighted coronal imaging with gray-scale reversal, we can obtain BPAS-MRI with any MR machine of any company. BPAS-MRI can easily show the outer contour of the vertebrobasilar artery even if occluded. Therefore, BPAS-MRI can also reveal the occluded basilar trunk and the shape of basilar top branching that we cannot see with any other imaging modality before the recanalizing interventional procedure.

To avoid a dangerous blind manipulation of guidewires or micro-catheters, BPAS-MRI should be obtained prior to the interventional procedure in cases of acute basilar artery occlusion.

Keywords

MRI vertebrobasilar system arterial occlusion interventional neuroradiology

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References

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: MR imaging of brain surface structures: Surface anatomy scanning (SAS). Neuroradiology 1990; 32: 439–448.

Nagahata

Hosoya

: Basi-parallel Anatomical Scanning (BPAS) MRI: A simple MRI technique for demonstrating the surface appearance of the intracranial vertebrobasilar artery. Nippon Acta Radiologica 63: 582–584, 2003 (in Jpse.)