Miscellaneous vascular diseases

Abstract

This chapter discusses a variety of inflammatory, infectious, and not otherwise easily categorized diseases that can affect the intracranial vessels. These include diseases with known genetic mutations such as Fabry’s disease, cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), and cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL); those arising as a result of genetic and environmental factors such as moyamoya; and those with yet unknown etiologies such as Takayasu’s, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and Behcet’s disease. In each case, the preferred imaging methods and characteristic imaging findings are discussed. We concentrate on the standard imaging methods of MRI, cerebral angiography, and noninterventional angiography. Where applicable, advanced imaging techniques including cerebrovascular reactivity, vessel wall imaging, perfusion imaging, and MR spectroscopy are discussed.