Microbleeds

Cerebral Microbleeds. Gradient echo (GE) T2-weighted MRIs. Note the numerous small dot-like hypointense lesions, indicators of prior microbleeds (MBs). MBs are strongly associated with intracerebral hemorrhage, hypertension, lacunar strokes and ischemic small vessel disease, and have generated interest as a marker of bleeding-prone microangiopathy.

With the advent of new technology and the development of MRI sequences that are highly sensitive to blood-breakdown products, a growing number of studies have been done characterizing the occurrence of MBs in different populations. These studies demonstrate that MRI evidence of MBs is seen in 33% to 80% of patients with primary intracerebral hemorrhages, in 21% to 26% of patients with ischemic strokes, and in 5% to 6% of asymptomatic or healthy elderly individuals.