Frequency and location of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces in elderly people: A population-based 3D MR imaging study
AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011-02-24; 32(4): 709-713
DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A2366
Read on PubMed
1. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2011 Apr;32(4):709-13. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2366. Epub 2011
Feb 24.
Frequency and location of dilated Virchow-Robin spaces in elderly people: a
population-based 3D MR imaging study.
Zhu YC(1), Dufouil C, Mazoyer B, Soumaré A, Ricolfi F, Tzourio C, Chabriat H.
Author information:
(1)From INSERM U708, Paris, France.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: dVRS have been previously associated with aging and
cerebrovascular diseases. However, little is known about their prevalence and
topographic distribution in the general elderly population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: dVRS were evaluated by using high-resolution 3D MR imaging
in 1826 subjects enrolled in the 3C-Dijon MR imaging study. On T1-weighted MR
imaging, dVRS were detected according to 3D imaging criteria and rated by using
4-level severity scores based in the BG or in the WM. The number and anatomic
location of large dVRS (≥3 mm) were recorded.
RESULTS: dVRS were observed in the BG or WM in every subject. The severity of
dVRS was significantly associated with higher age in both the BG and WM, whereas
sex was related to the severity of dVRS only in the BG. Large dVRS were detected
in 33.2% of participants. Status cribrosum was found in 1.3% of participants.
dVRS were also highly prevalent within the hippocampus (44.5%) and hypothalamus
(11.6%).
CONCLUSIONS: dVRS are always detected in the BG or WM in elderly people, and
large dVRS are also prevalent. The topographic distribution of dVRS is not
uniform within the brain and may depend on anatomic or pathologic characteristics
interacting with aging and sex.
DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.A2366
PMID: 21349956 [Indexed for MEDLINE]