Evaluation of Middle Cerebral Artery Vessel Wall in Anterior Circulation Transient Ischemic Attack: A 5.0 T MRI and 3D High-Resolution Study

Motivation: TIAs are warning signs for ischemic strokes, but early detection of high-risk vascular changes is challenging. Identifying vessel wall abnormalities in the MCA could improve risk assessment and prevention. Goal(s): To determine whether 5.0 T MRI with 3D high-resolution VWI enhances detection of MCA wall abnormalities in patients with anterior circulation TIAs. Approach: Used 5.0 T MRI with 3D-VWI to measure MCA wall thickness, cross-sectional area, and eccentricity in TIA patients and age-matched healthy controls. Results: TIA patients showed significantly greater MCA wall thickness, larger cross-sectional areas, and more frequent eccentric wall thickening than controls, indicating effective detection of high-risk vascular changes. Impact: This study demonstrates that 5.0 T MRI with high-resolution 3D-VWI can reliably identify high-risk structural changes in TIA patients, enhancing early stroke risk assessment and potentially guiding personalized intervention strategies for improved patient outcomes.