Skip to main content
AJNR: American Journal of Neuroradiology logoLink to AJNR: American Journal of Neuroradiology
. 2012 Mar;33(3):576–582. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2794

Systematic Review of Methods for Assessing Leptomeningeal Collateral Flow

F McVerry a, DS Liebeskind b, KW Muir a,
PMCID: PMC7966447  PMID: 22135128

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:

The importance of LMF in the outcome after acute ischemic stroke is increasingly recognized, but imaging presents a wide range of options for identification of collaterals and there is no single system for grading collateral flow. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on the available methods for measuring LMF adequacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We performed a systematic review of Ovid, MEDLINE, and Embase databases for studies in which flow in the leptomeningeal collateral vessels was evaluated. Imaging technique, grading scale, and reliability assessment for collateral flow measurement were recorded.

RESULTS:

We found 81 publications describing 63 methods for grading collateral flow on the basis of conventional angiography (n = 41), CT (n = 7), MR imaging (n = 9), and transcranial Doppler (n = 6). Inter- and/or intraobserver agreement was assessed in only 8 publications.

CONCLUSIONS:

There is inconsistency in how LMF is graded, with a variety of grading scales and imaging modalities being used. Consistency in evaluating collateral flow at baseline is required for the impact of collateral flow to be fully appreciated.


Leptomeningeal collaterals are anastomotic vessels providing alternative routes for blood flow in stroke.1 In chronic hypoperfusion due to severe carotid stenosis or occlusion, flow via leptomeningeal vessels can maintain cerebral blood flow when primary collateral flow (via the arterial segments of the circle of Willis) is insufficient.2,3 Better LMF is associated with less infarct growth and better outcome following acute stroke,4,5 while poor collateralization is associated with hemorrhage after IA thrombolysis.6 Numerous studies, using several imaging modalities and grading methods, suggest that leptomeningeal collaterals confer a benefit in stroke. Because the influential role of collaterals has been repeatedly reported, we conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the available LMF assessment methods.

Materials and Methods

MEDLINE and Embase were searched from inception to week 32, 2009, by using the Ovid on-line portal for LMF assessments. The search strategy is shown in Appendix 1. The search was supplemented by review of journal electronic tables of contents and by searching the bibliographies of relevant articles; when full text was unavailable, authors were contacted. Studies that graded LMF, published in English and performed on humans, were considered, with assessments on patients with Moyamoya disease excluded. The target population included patients with acute stroke (<24 hours from onset) or patients with known cerebrovascular disease who had collateral flow assessed at later time points. Studies that graded collateral flow and provided a description of the assessment method were included. Terms such as “cortical/pial anastomoses” were judged as being synonymous with leptomeningeal collaterals and were assessed according to the same criteria. Positron-emission tomography and single-photon emission CT examinations, which indirectly evaluated collaterals, were excluded. Included publication dates ranged from January 1965 to October 2010.

Results

MEDLINE and Embase searches yielded 9456 and 6847 publications, respectively, 195 of which were screened as relevant and had full texts reviewed. After screening, we included 39 articles. A further 42 articles were obtained by handsearching bibliographies and review of electronic tables of contents, providing a total of 81 different publications for inclusion (n = 4686 patients, Table 1). In total, 41 different criteria for grading LMF with conventional angiography (n = 3467 patients), including both acute and nonacute patient groups with collateral assessments in anterior and posterior circulation, were recorded (Table 2).4,662 Reliability assessments were available for 2 of these methods, demonstrating good and very good inter-/intraobserver agreement (n = 172).6,14,40 Arterial injection sites, when described, included unilateral carotid/MCA (n = 3),34,54,56 bilateral carotid (n = 3),24,52,63 a minimum of ipsilateral carotid and vertebral (n = 10),9,31,36,38,39,45,51,53,55,58 and other combinations (n = 5).10,11,28,49,50

Table 1:

Number of LMF assessments per imaging modality

Modality Different Assessment Methods No. of Publications Studies with Inter-/Intraobserver Agreement Assessed
Angiography 41 58 26,14,40
CT 7 12 55,64,69,71,72
MR imaging 9 13 0
TCD 6 7 0

Table 2:

Catheter angiography collateral scoring methodsa

Description Grading Author (No.) Acute (<24 hr from Symptom Onset)/Non-Acute Reliability Assessed? Prognostic Significance of Good Collateral Flow Grade in Acute Stroke
Extent of anterograde and retrograde vessel filling 0–3 Brandt7 (20) Acute No Beneficial7,8
Arnold et al8 (40)
No. and rapidity of collateral vessel filling 0–2 von Kummer9 (53) Acute No Beneficial
No. and rapidity of collateral vessel filling N/A Bozzao et al10 (36) Acute No NS10
Bozzao et al11 (36) NS11, beneficial63
Toni et al63 (80)
Filling extent of main and distal vessels via collaterals 0–3 Wu et al13 (51) Nonacute No N/A
Reconstitution of vessel relative to occlusion 1–5 Christoforidis et al6 (104) Acute Yes, κ = 0.816,14 Beneficial6,14
Christoforidis et al14 (53)
Retrograde MCA flow to insula Present, absent, indeterminate Derdeyn et al15 (117) Nonacute No N/A
Rapidity and extent of retrograde collateral flow 0–4 Bang et al4 (44) Acute No Beneficial4,17,20
Higashida et al16 (0)a N/A16
Bang et al17 (119) No effect18
Ovbiagele et al18 (95) NS19,2123
Sanossian et al19 (74)
Liebeskind20 (120)
Liebeskind21 (120)
Liebeskind22 (50)
Liebeskind23 (66)
Flow extent across cortical surface N/A Powers et al24 (19) Nonacute No N/A
Visual inspection N/A Klijn et al25 (76) Nonacute No N/A
Delayed contrast washout N/A Essig et al26 (30) Nonacute No N/A
Visualization of slow flow N/A Kamran et al27 (8) Acute No NS
Visualization of flow pattern Grade 4 = leptomeningeal flow Ozgur et al28 (27) Nonacute No N/A
Cortical branches from contralateral ACA/PCA N/A Rutgers et al29 (112) Nonacute No N/A
Visualization of pial vessels N/A Zappe et al30 (86) Unclear No NS
Visualization of anastomoses from adjacent vascular territories N/A Noguchi et al31 (5) Acute No NS
Visualization of arteriogram N/A Grubb et al32 (81) Nonacute No N/A
Cortical arteries from PCA N/A Fukuyama et al33 (3) Nonacute No N/A
No. and rapidity of vessel filling 0–2 Lee et al34 (8) Acute No NS
Distal MCA branches filling through ACA or PCA N/A Kim et al35 (51) Acute No NS
Retrograde vessel filling N/A Kinoshita et al36 (10) Unclear No NS
Cortical branches from PCA to MCA N/A van Laar et al37 (23) Nonacute No N/A
Retrograde filling of MCA branches N/A Yamauchi et al38 (42) Nonacute No N/A
Extent and no. of vessels filling via collateral flow Absent, mild, or prominent Uemura et al39 (25) Combination No NS
Combination of occlusion site and extent of collateral flow 0–5 Qureshi40 (15) Acute Yes, κ = 0.7340 Beneficial4042
Mohammad et al41 (57)
Mohammad et al42 (55)
Extent of retrograde flow in MCA Good, poor Kucinski et al43 (111) Acute No Beneficial
Gasparotti et al44 (27)
Capillary blush in MCA Grade 4 = leptomeningeal flow Russell et al45 (14) Nonacute No N/A
MCA/PCA filling from posterior circulation N/A Bischopps et al46 (68) Nonacute No N/A
Opacification of basilar artery by collaterals Distal vs distal and proximal Cross et al47 (24) Acute No Beneficial
Cortical branches filling MCA/ACA from PCA N/A Bokkers et al48 (17) Nonacute No N/A
Pial collateral flow from ACA and PCA N/A Derdeyn et al49 (10) Nonacute No N/A
Flow via anastomotic channels on brain surface N/A Smith et al50 (18) Nonacute No N/A
Collateral flow assessment based on ASPECTS (13 areas) 0–3 in corresponding anatomic locations Chng et al51 (18) Nonacute No N/A
No. and rapidity of vessel filling from ACA Good or scarce von Kummer et al52 (77) Acute No No effect
No. and rapidity of vessel filling from ACA and PCA 0–2 von Kummer et al53 (32) Acute No Beneficial
Filling extent of at risk territory 1–3 Roberts et al54 (180) Acute No Beneficial
Collateral flow assessment based on ASPECTS (15 areas) 0–3 in corresponding anatomic locations Kim et al55 (44) Acute No Beneficial
MCA branch filling in early venous phase Good, moderate, poor Ringelstein et al56 (34) Acute No Beneficial
Retrograde arterioles visualized in capillary phase N/A Weidner et al57 (4) Unclear No NS57
Presence of superficial PCA/ACA cortical branches N/A Hoffmeijer et al58 (70) Nonacute No N/A
Extent of leptomeningeal anastomoses in occluded territory Poor, good Arnold et al59 (98) Acute No No effect59
Meier et al60 (311) Beneficial60
Presence of collaterals in affected territory None/minimal, moderate/max Gonner et al61 (43) Acute No No effect61
Brekenfeld et al62 (294) Beneficial62

Note:—NS indicates not stated; N/A, not applicable; ASPECTS, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score; max., maximal; PCA, posterior cerebral artery.

a

Proposal on working group on collateral grading.

Seven grading scales by using CTA were identified, with LMF assessments performed on 593 patients with suspected acute stroke (Table 3).5,34,6473 Interobserver agreement was assessed for 5 CTA methods, ranging from moderate to excellent (n = 247). One grading scale used a combination of CTP in addition to CTA to confirm the retrograde direction of true LMF.5 MR imaging (n = 358 patients) and TCD (n = 268 patients) were used according to 9 and 6 grading methods respectively, with no assessments of interobserver agreement being reported (Tables 4 and 5).2,13,19,27,31,35,51,7486 A total of 8 publications compared noninvasive LMF assessments with MR imaging (n = 5), CT (n = 2), or TCD (n = 1) with a reference standard by using DSA; in each, a different grading scale for the criterion standard was used.13,19,27,31,3436,51

Table 3:

CT-based collateral scoring methods

Modality Description Grading Author (No.) Acute (<24 hr from Symptom Onset)/Non-Acute Reliability Assessed? Prognostic Significance of Good Collateral Flow Grade in Acute Stroke
Axial CTA-SI Extent of perilesional vessel filling None, moderate, good, excellent Liebeskind64 (36) Acute Yes, ICC = 0.81 NS
CTA-SI Comparison of Sylvian collaterals with contralateral hemisphere Absent, less, equal to, greater than contralateral hemisphere, exuberant Rosenthal et al65 (44) Acute No Beneficial6567
Maas et al66 (135)
Lima et al67 (196)
CTA-SI and MPR Extent of perilesional enhancement Good, poor Schramm et al68 (20) Acute Yes, κ = 0.494 Beneficial68,69
Tan et al69 (113)
CTA-SI and reconstructions MCA filling in Sylvian fissure Good, moderate, absent Wildermuth et al70 (40) Acute Yes Beneficial70,71
Knauth et al71 (21) 88% agreement between 2 raters71
CTA MIP Extent of filling in territory of occluded vessel 0–3 Tan et al69 (113) Acute Yes Beneficial69.72,73
Tan et al72 (85) κ = 0.66969, ICC 0.8772
Soares et al73 (22)
CTA, MIP, CTP Retrograde filling of MCA Good, moderate, poor Miteff et al5 (92) Acute Yes Beneficial
κ = 0.93
(TCTP) Extent of perfusion deficit on TCTP Severe, moderate Lee et al34 Acute No NS

Note:—NS indicates not stated; ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient; CTA-SI, CT angiography source images; MPR, multiplanar reconstruction; MIP, maximum intensity projection; TPCT, triphasic CTP.

Table 4:

MR imaging-based grading methods

Modality Description Author (No.) Acute (<24 hr from Symptom Onset)/Nonacute Reliability Assessed? Prognostic Significance of Good Collateral Flow Grade in Acute Stroke
FADS Late FADS implies collateral flow Martel et al84 (22) Acute No NS
QMRA Increased flow ipsilateral to steno-occlusive disease Ruland et al83 (16) Nonacute No N/A
Phase-contrast MRA Flow from posterior to anterior circulation Schomer et al82 (29) Nonacute No N/A
FLAIR FLAIR hyperintensities as a marker of collateral flow Liebeskind85 (91) Acute No NS85,19,27,31,81
Kamran et al27 (8)
Noguchi et al31 (5)
Sanossian et al19 (74)
Lee et al81 (52)
T2*-weighted MRI Abnormal visualization of leptomeningeal vessels Hermier et al80 (48) Acute No NS
PWI Delayed perfusion sign visualized on PWI Hermier et al79 (29) Acute No NS
ASL Quantitative distal collateral flow measurement Wu et al13 (51) Nonacute No N/A
TASL Collateral flow assessment based on ASPECTS Chng et al51 (18) Nonacute No N/A
CASL Collateral flow inferred from delayed arterial flow Chalela et al78 (15) Acute No NS

Note:—NS indicates not stated; N/A, not applicable; FADS, factor analysis of dynamic structures; QMRA, quantitative MRA; TASL, territorial arterial spin labelling; CASL, continuous arterial spin-labeled/labeling; ASPECTS, Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score.

Table 5:

TCD-based grading methods

Description Author (No.) Acute (<24 hr from Symptom Onset)/Nonacute Reliability Assessed? Prognostic Significance of Good Collateral Flow Grade in Acute Stroke
Asymmetry of flow in ipsilateral ACA and PCA Zanette et al77 (56) Acute No NS
Asymmetric P2 flow and reduced pulsatility Reinhard et al76 (30) Nonacute No N/A
Reinhard et al75 (111)
Asymmetric mean blood velocity in proximal ACA or P2 segment of ACA Muller and Schimrigk2 (48) Nonacute No N/A
Accelerated flow in A1 segment of ACA Kaps et al74 (23) Acute No NS
Flow direction relative to Doppler probe Hennerici et al86,a Unclear No NS
Asymmetric flow velocity and pulsatility index Kim et al35 (51) Acute No NS

Note:—NS indicates not stated; N/A, not applicable.

a

Number not stated.

Discussion

The quality of LMF is reported to be an independent predictor of outcome after acute ischemic stroke, after adjustment for other known prognostic factors such as age, clinical stroke severity, baseline imaging characteristics, occlusion site, treatment, and recanalization/reperfusion4,5,43,63,65,69,72 and suggests that, as a minimum, there is a need to account for its influence on outcomes after stroke. Good collateral flow is assumed to be associated with favorable outcome as a consequence of maintaining the ischemic penumbra for longer until reperfusion occurs, though the effect of collaterals appears to be independent of conventional indices of penumbra such as arterial recanalization/reperfusion.5,65

It is unclear whether the collateral grade represents an inherent characteristic of individual subjects or a potential therapeutic target. Collateral flow grades on CTA are reportedly better in patients who undergo imaging later after symptom onset, while better collateral flow grades on conventional angiography have been reported in patients treated with statins before stroke,18 suggesting that collateral flow is dynamic and could potentially be modified.

The fact that LMF is not accounted for in occlusion classifications may be important in defining arterial occlusions at the entry to a clinical trial and adoption of scoring systems from coronary artery disease; notably, the TIMI87 system or minor modifications of such systems (eg, thrombolysis in cerebral ischemia) ignore fundamental differences in the acquisition of images and the anatomy of the different vascular beds. For example, when applied to the cerebral circulation, a “good” TIMI score on CTA (eg, TIMI 2) could actually represent a complete arterial occlusion (no anterograde flow) with extensive retrograde flow via collaterals. A consistent method for assessment and grading is required to investigate collaterals in acute stroke. Our review revealed wide variation in the methods for grading LMF, few of which are supported even by measurement of observer agreement.

Conventional angiography, considered the criterion standard for assessing cerebrovascular anatomy, can reveal retrograde collateral perfusion in a dynamic fashion and has been used for LMF assessments in the largest number of patients. The most frequently used scale was proposed by the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology in an effort to homogenize grading with angiography16, but an assessment of interobserver agreement has not yet been reported. Good intraobserver agreement has been demonstrated with angiography when LMF was graded according to the anatomic extent of retrograde flow (κ = 0.81).6,14 The Qureshi scale also demonstrates good interobserver agreement but does not focus on LMF independently. One collateral grading scale quantified collateral flow according to the time taken for contrast to travel from the ICA to the M2 segment of the MCA via collaterals but described flow through primary collaterals of the circle of Willis rather than through cortical anastomoses.88 Although not truly grading LMF, it provides a quantitative time-based measurement that could potentially be used for collateral assessments. Because LMF is derived from neighboring arterial territories, its quality may only be fully evaluated when the contribution of all potential inflow sources is assessed. Descriptions of arterial injection sites are infrequently provided, and even when available, the contribution of the whole cerebral circulation is seldom evaluated. Conventional angiography is invasive and is usually performed when a patient is being considered for IA therapy which, in general, is reserved for those with contraindications to intravenous treatment (eg, presentation beyond 4.5 hours with favorable appearances on CT), meaning that angiographic LMF assessments are predominantly restricted to this group. Because multimodal CT and MR imaging are increasingly used in clinical practice and before entry to clinical trials, they offer a larger potential population in which LMF can be assessed noninvasively.

Although lacking dynamic information, CTA permits visualization of the extent of LMF. The independent predictive value of collaterals has been confirmed with different CTA methods, and interobserver agreement within different grading scales has been assessed.64,69,71,72 Retrograde flow relative to a proximal arterial occlusion provides a measurement of LMF adequacy, but grading LMF this way for more distal occlusions may be more difficult. A collateral scoring system based on contrast enhancement in defined regions of interest provides a scale not dependant on a specific occlusion, which could potentially be applied in a larger patient population.64 The addition of CT perfusion to CTA adds important dynamic information to confirm that collateral flow is truly retrograde and demonstrates excellent interobserver agreement.5 New multidetector scanners that enable simultaneous acquisition of both CTA and CTP allow dynamic collateral flow assessment with CT.89

LMF assessments with MR imaging use different imaging characteristics to infer the presence of collaterals. FLAIR vascular hyperintensities due to retrograde flow in leptomeningeal vessels have been associated with larger mismatch volumes and smaller subacute infarct volumes, while abnormal vessels on T2* imaging may be due to deoxygenated blood in collaterals and are associated with smaller infarct volumes.80,81 ASL, by using different criteria, has also been used to grade collateral flow with MR imaging.13,51,78 These and other LMF assessments with MR imaging have not been replicated nor has interobserver reliability been graded, and it remains to be seen if they represent robust means of assessing collateral flow.

Relative blood flow velocity and vessel pulsatility have been used as surrogate markers for leptomeningeal collateral flow by using TCD in a small number of studies, but the criteria for defining LMF varied among publications (Table 5). The lack of an agreed definition for LMF on TCD, absence of direct collateral visualization, and difficulty in finding acoustic windows are limitations of TCD, though these are offset by the lack of radiation and contrast requirements.90 Flow diversion on TCD, defined as increased flow velocity in ipsilateral ACA/PCA, did correlate with angiographic collateral grade when methods were compared, suggesting a possible role for TCD to measure LMF.35

When collaterals were measured by using DSA, CTA, and MR imaging, CTA compared favorably, but the methods used for grading LMF on CTA were not clearly stated, so this finding must be interpreted with caution.36

Conclusions

The presence of flow in leptomeningeal collaterals is linked with positive outcomes after stroke, but there is little consistency in the methods used to grade the efficacy of collateral flow. Although the importance of leptomeningeal collaterals is consistently reported, the inconsistency in imaging methods and grading currently limits the emphasis that can be placed on collaterals. For targeting collateral vessels in stroke therapeutic strategies, consistency in examining their extent at baseline is required to permit further expansion of this area. At present, conventional angiography remains the method that can best measure collateral extent and number, but CT-based techniques, which have demonstrated good interobserver reliability and correlation with clinical outcome, may provide an accessible and reliable assessment method for grading collateral flow in a larger patient population, particularly with the development of dynamic CTA combined with perfusion imaging. MR imaging and TCD have been used less frequently than angiography or CT but can also provide noninvasive measurements of LMF.

ABBREVIATIONS:

ACA

anterior cerebral artery

ASL

arterial spin-labeling

IA

intra-arterial

LMF

leptomeningeal collateral flow

PCA

posterior cerebral artery

TCD

transcranial Doppler

TIMI

Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction

Appendix

Search Strategy MEDLINE (1950 to July Week 1 2009) and Embase before 1980 to 2009 Week 32.

  • 1) stroke.mp. or *Stroke/ (112119)

  • 2) acute stroke.mp. or *Stroke/ (34761)

  • 3) *Adult/ or *Aged/ or *Ischemic Attack, Transient/ or *Cerebrovascular Circulation/ or *Cerebrovascular Disorders/ or *Brain/ or *Middle Aged/ or *Brain Ischemia/ or ischemic stroke.mp. or *Cerebral Infarction/ (93464)

  • 4) cerebral infarction.mp. or *Cerebral Infarction/ (13177)

  • 5) occlusion.mp. (91391)

  • 6) stenosis.mp. or Constriction, Pathologic/ (85260)

  • 7) carotid stenosis.mp. or *Carotid Stenosis/ (7417)

  • 8) *Cerebral Arteries/ or *Cerebrovascular Disorders/ or *Aged/ or *Carotid Artery Diseases/ or *Ischemic Attack, Transient/ or *Cerebral Infarction/ or *Arterial Occlusive Diseases/ or intracranial occlusion.mp. or *Stroke/ (70577)

  • 9) middle cerebral artery occlusion.mp. or *Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery/ (7330)

  • 10) *Thrombosis/ or *Intracranial Thrombosis/ or *Carotid Artery Thrombosis/ or *“Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis”/ or thrombosis.mp. (116053)

  • 11) clinical outcome.mp. (26854)

  • 12) contrast media.mp. or *Contrast Media/ (11586)

  • 13) tomography, x-ray computed.mp. or *Tomography, X-Ray Computed/ (55062)

  • 14) *Angiography, Digital Subtraction/ or *Angiography/ or Angiography.mp. or *Cerebral Angiography/ or *Magnetic Resonance Angiography/ (113286)

  • 15) CT angiography.mp. (3058)

  • 16) CT angiogram.mp. (148)

  • 17) CT angiography source images.mp. (7)

  • 18) *Brain Ischemia/ or *Brain/ or *Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/ or *Magnetic Resonance Imaging/ or MR, diffusion weighted.mp. (111259)

  • 19) MR angiography.mp. or *Magnetic Resonance Angiography/ (12630)

  • 20) digital subtraction angiography.mp. or *Angiography, Digital Subtraction/ (8851)

  • 21) angiogram.mp. (5291)

  • 22) *Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial/ or transcranial.mp. (15831)

  • 23) *Cerebrovascular Circulation/ or *Collateral Circulation/ or pial collaterals.mp. or *Cerebral Arteries/ (4354)

  • 24) leptomeningeal collaterals.mp. (35)

  • 25) collateral circulation.mp. or *Collateral Circulation/ (6309)

  • 26) collateral vessels.mp. (1376)

  • 27) collateral flow.mp. (1333)

  • 28) collateral blood supply.mp. (203)

  • 29) CT perfusion.mp. (380)

  • 30) recanalization.mp. (7177)

  • 31) *Thrombolytic Therapy/ or thrombolysis.mp. or *Stroke/ (45637)

  • 32) angiogram.m_titl. (312)

  • 33) angiography.m_titl. (15333)

  • 34) collateral.m_titl. (3356)

  • 35) 33 or 32 or 21 or 17 or 12 or 20 or 15 or 14 or 22 or 34 or 30 or 13 or 16 or 19 (196091)

  • 36) 6 or 11 or 3 or 7 or 9 or 2 or 8 or 1 or 4 or 30 or 10 or 5 (460879)

  • 37) 27 or 25 or 28 or 30 or 24 or 26 or 23 (17675)

  • 38) 35, or 29 (196193)

  • 39) 38, and 36 and 37 (9774)

  • 40) limit 39 to humans (8311)

  • 41) limit 40 to English language (6887)

  • 42) from 41 keep 84,96,99,126,143,161,181,241,247,262–263,290,304,311–312,314,400,439,446,489,492,507,532,613,616,623,694,891,949 (29).

Footnotes

Disclosures: Ferghal McVerry—supported by an award from Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland* and the Translational Medicine Research Collaboration. David S. Liebeskind—RELATED: Grant: NINDS-NIH;* UNRELATED: Consultancy: Concentric Medical, CoAxia. Keith W. Muir—supported by the Scottish Imaging Network, A Platform for Scientific Excellence (SINAPSE) network; UNRELATED: Consultancy: ReNeuron, Lundbeck, MScience, Comments: preparation for a clinical trial in relation to stem cells (ReNeuron),* an ongoing trial in acute stroke thrombolysis (Lundbeck),* analysis of clinical trial data from acute stroke regenerative drug treatment (MScience);* Grants/Grants Pending: Penumbra, Concentric, ev3.* (*Money paid to institution)

References

  • 1. Brozici M, van der Zwan A, Hillen B. Anatomy and functionality of leptomeningeal anastomoses: a review. Stroke 2003; 34: 2750– 62 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2. Muller M, Schimrigk K. Vasomotor reactivity and pattern of collateral blood flow in severe occlusive carotid artery disease. Stroke 1996; 27: 296– 99 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3. Liebeskind DS. Collateral circulation. Stroke 2003; 34: 2279– 84 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4. Bang OY, Saver JL, Buck BH, et al. Impact of collateral flow on tissue fate in acute ischaemic stroke. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2008; 79: 625– 29 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5. Miteff F, Levi CR, Bateman GA, et al. The independent predictive utility of computed tomography angiographic collateral status in acute ischaemic stroke. Brain 2009; 132: 2231– 38 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6. Christoforidis GA, Karakasis C, Mohammad Y, et al. Predictors of hemorrhage following intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke: the role of pial collateral formation. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009; 30: 165– 70 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7. Brandt T. Survival with basilar artery occlusion. Cerebrovasc Dis 1995; 5: 182– 87 [Google Scholar]
  • 8. Arnold M, Nedeltchev K, Schroth G, et al. Clinical and radiological predictors of recanalisation and outcome of 40 patients with acute basilar artery occlusion treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004; 75: 857– 62 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9. von Kummer R. Effects of recanalization and collateral blood supply on infarct extent and brain edema after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Cerebrovasc Dis 1993; 3: 252– 55 [Google Scholar]
  • 10. Bozzao L, Fantozzi LM, Bastianello S, et al. Early collateral blood supply and late parenchymal brain damage in patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion. Stroke 1989; 20: 735– 40 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11. Bozzao L, Bastianello S, Fantozzi LM, et al. Correlation of angiographic and sequential CT findings in patients with evolving cerebral infarction. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1989; 10: 1215– 22 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12. Toni D, Fiorelli M, De Michele M, et al. Clinical and prognostic correlates of stroke subtype misdiagnosis within 12 hours from onset. Stroke 1995; 26: 1837– 40 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13. Wu B, Wang X, Guo J, et al. Collateral circulation imaging: MR perfusion territory arterial spin-labeling at 3T. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2008; 29: 1855– 60 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14. Christoforidis GA, Mohammad Y, Kehagias D, et al. Angiographic assessment of pial collaterals as a prognostic indicator following intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2005; 26: 1789– 97 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15. Derdeyn CP, Shaibani A, Moran CJ, et al. Lack of correlation between pattern of collateralization and misery perfusion in patients with carotid occlusion. Stroke 1999; 30: 1025– 32 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16. Higashida RT, Furlan AJ, Roberts H, et al. Trial design and reporting standards for intra-arterial cerebral thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. Stroke 2003; 34: e109– 37 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17. Bang OY, Saver JL, Alger JR, et al. Determinants of the distribution and severity of hypoperfusion in patients with ischemic stroke. Neurology 2008; 71: 1804– 11 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18. Ovbiagele B, Saver JL, Starkman S, et al. Statin enhancement of collateralization in acute stroke. Neurology 2007; 68: 2129– 31 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19. Sanossian N, Saver JL, Alger JR, et al. Angiography reveals that fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities are due to slow flow, not thrombus. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009; 30: 564– 68 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20. Liebeskind DS. Angiographic collaterals and outcome in mechanical thrombolysis. Stroke 2005; 36: 449 [Google Scholar]
  • 21. Liebeskind DS. Clinical predictors of angiographic collaterals in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke. 2005; 36: 450 [Google Scholar]
  • 22. Liebeskind DS. Benign oligemia reflects collateral perfusion: MRI and angiography of low perfusion hyperemia in humans. Stroke 2008; 39: 577 [Google Scholar]
  • 23. Liebeskind DS, Sanossian N, Alger JR, et al. Gradient echo MRI phase mismapping reveals angiographic correlated in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke 2006; 37: 637 [Google Scholar]
  • 24. Powers WJ, Press GA, Grubb RL, Jr, et al. The effect of hemodynamically significant carotid artery disease on the hemodynamic status of the cerebral circulation. Ann Intern Med 1987; 106: 27– 34 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25. Klijn CJ, Kappelle LJ, van Huffelen AC, et al. Recurrent ischemia in symptomatic carotid occlusion: prognostic value of hemodynamic factors. Neurology 2000; 55: 1806– 12 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26. Essig M, von Kummer R, Egelhof T, et al. Vascular MR contrast enhancement in cerebrovascular disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1996; 17: 887– 94 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27. Kamran S, Bates V, Bakshi R, et al. Significance of hyperintense vessels on FLAIR MRI in acute stroke. Neurology 2000; 55: 265– 69 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28. Ozgur HT, Kent Walsh T, Masaryk A, et al. Correlation of cerebrovascular reserve as measured by acetazolamide-challenged SPECT with angiographic flow patterns and intra- or extracranial arterial stenosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2001; 22: 928– 36 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 29. Rutgers DR, Klijn CJ, Kappelle LJ, et al. Recurrent stroke in patients with symptomatic carotid artery occlusion is associated with high-volume flow to the brain and increased collateral circulation. Stroke 2004; 35: 1345– 49 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30. Zappe L, Juhasz J, Vidovszky T. Relationship of collateral circulation and prognosis in cerebral arterial occlusion. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1966; 14: 225– 37 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31. Noguchi K, Ogawa T, Inugami A, et al. MRI of acute cerebral infarction: a comparison of FLAIR and T2-weighted fast spin-echo imaging. Neuroradiology 1997; 39: 406– 10 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32. Grubb RL, Jr, Derdeyn CP, Fritsch SM, et al. Importance of hemodynamic factors in the prognosis of symptomatic carotid occlusion. JAMA 1998; 280: 1055– 60 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33. Fukuyama H, Akiguchi I, Kameyama M, et al. Krypton-81m single photon emission tomography and the collateral circulation in carotid occlusion: the role of the circle of Willis and leptomeningeal anastomoses. J Neurol 1983; 230: 7– 17 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34. Lee KH, Cho SJ, Byun HS, et al. Triphasic perfusion computed tomography in acute middle cerebral artery stroke: a correlation with angiographic findings. Arch Neurol 2000; 57: 990– 99 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35. Kim Y, Sin DS, Park HY, et al. Relationship between flow diversion on transcranial Doppler sonography and leptomeningeal collateral circulation in patients with middle cerebral artery occlusive disorder. J Neuroimaging 2009; 19: 23– 26 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 36. Kinoshita T, Ogawa T, Kado H, et al. CT angiography in the evaluation of intracranial occlusive disease with collateral circulation: comparison with MR angiography. Clin Imaging 2005; 29: 303– 06 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 37. van Laar PJ, Hendrikse J, Klijn CJ, et al. Symptomatic carotid artery occlusion: flow territories of major brain-feeding arteries. Radiology 2007; 242: 526– 34 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 38. Yamauchi H, Kudoh T, Sugimoto K, et al. Pattern of collaterals, type of Infarcts, and haemodynamic impairment in carotid artery occlusion. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004; 75: 1697– 701 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 39. Uemura A, O'Uchi T, Kikuchi Y, et al. Prominent laterality of the posterior cerebral artery at three-dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography in m1-segment middle cerebral artery occlusion. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2004; 25: 88– 91 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 40. Qureshi AI. New grading system for angiographic evaluation of arterial occlusions and recanalization response to intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Neurosurgery 2002; 50: 1405– 14, discussion 1414–15 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 41. Mohammad Y, Xavier AR, Christoforidis G, et al. Qureshi grading scheme for angiographic occlusions strongly correlates with the initial severity and in-hospital outcome of acute ischemic stroke. J Neuroimaging. 2004; 14: 235– 41 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 42. Mohammad YM, Christoforidis GA, Bourekas EC, et al. Qureshi grading scheme predicts subsequent volume of brain infarction following intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke. J Neuroimaging 2008; 18: 262– 67 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 43. Kucinski T, Koch C, Eckert B, et al. Collateral circulation is an independent radiological predictor of outcome after thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke. Neuroradiology 2003; 45: 11– 18 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 44. Gasparotti R, Grassi M, Mardighian D, et al. Perfusion CT in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intra-arterial thrombolysis: predictive value of infarct core size on clinical outcome. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009; 30: 722– 27 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 45. Russell SM, Woo HH, Siller K, et al. Evaluating middle cerebral artery collateral blood flow reserve using acetazolamide transcranial Doppler ultrasound in patients with carotid occlusive disease. Surg Neurol 2008; 70: 466– 70, discussion 470 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 46. Bisschops RH, Klijn CJ, Kappelle LJ, et al. Collateral flow and ischemic brain lesions in patients with unilateral carotid artery occlusion. Neurology 2003; 60: 1435– 41 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 47. Cross DT, 3rd, Moran CJ, Akins PT, et al. Collateral circulation and outcome after basilar artery thrombolysis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1998; 19: 1557– 63 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 48. Bokkers RP, van Laar PJ, van de Ven KC, et al. Arterial spin-labeling MR imaging measurements of timing parameters in patients with a carotid artery occlusion. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2008; 29: 1698– 703 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 49. Derdeyn CP, Powers WJ, Grubb RL, Jr. Hemodynamic effects of middle cerebral artery stenosis and occlusion. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1998; 19: 1463– 69 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 50. Smith HA, Thompson-Dobkin J, Yonas H, et al. Correlation of xenon-enhanced computed tomography-defined cerebral blood flow reactivity and collateral flow patterns. Stroke 1994; 25: 1784– 87 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 51. Chng SM, Petersen ET, Zimine I, et al. Territorial arterial spin labeling in the assessment of collateral circulation: comparison with digital subtraction angiography. Stroke 2008; 39: 3248– 54 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 52. von Kummer R, Holle R, Rosin L, et al. Does arterial recanalization improve outcome in carotid territory stroke? Stroke 1995; 26: 581– 87 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 53. von Kummer R, Hacke W. Safety and efficacy of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator and heparin in acute middle cerebral artery stroke. Stroke 1992; 23: 646– 52 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 54. Roberts HC, Dillon WP, Furlan AJ, et al. Computed tomographic findings in patients undergoing intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke due to middle cerebral artery occlusion: results from the PROACT II trial. Stroke 2002; 33: 1557– 65 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 55. Kim JJ, Fischbein NJ, Lu Y, et al. Regional angiographic grading system for collateral flow: correlation with cerebral infarction in patients with middle cerebral artery occlusion. Stroke 2004; 35: 1340– 44 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 56. Ringelstein EB, Biniek R, Weiller C, et al. Type and extent of hemispheric brain infarctions and clinical outcome in early and delayed middle cerebral artery recanalization. Neurology 1992; 42: 289– 98 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 57. Weidner W, Hanafeewmarkham CH. Intracranial collateral circulation via leptomeningeal and rete mirabile anastomoses. Neurology 1965; 15: 39– 48 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 58. Hofmeijer J, Klijn CJ, Kappelle LJ, et al. Collateral circulation via the ophthalmic artery or leptomeningeal vessels is associated with impaired cerebral vasoreactivity in patients with symptomatic carotid artery occlusion. Cerebrovasc Dis 2002; 14: 22– 26 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 59. Arnold M, Schroth G, Nedeltchev K, et al. Intra-arterial thrombolysis in 100 patients with acute stroke due to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Stroke 2002; 33: 1828– 33 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 60. Meier N, Nedeltchev K, Brekenfeld C, et al. Prior statin use, intracranial hemorrhage, and outcome after intra-arterial thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke. Stroke 2009; 40: 1729– 37 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 61. Gonner F, Remonda L, Mattle H, et al. Local intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke 1998; 29: 1894– 900 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 62. Brekenfeld C, Remonda L, Nedeltchev K, et al. Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage after intra-arterial thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke: assessment of 294 patients treated with urokinase. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2007; 78: 280– 85 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 63. Toni D, Fiorelli M, Bastianello S, et al. Acute ischemic strokes improving during the first 48 hours of onset: predictability, outcome, and possible mechanisms—a comparison with early deteriorating strokes. Stroke 1997; 28: 10– 14 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 64. Liebeskind D. A novel CT angiography scale for assessment of collaterals in acute stroke. Stroke 2003; 34: 265 [Google Scholar]
  • 65. Rosenthal ES, Schwamm LH, Roccatagliata L, et al. Role of recanalization in acute stroke outcome: rationale for a CT angiogram-based “benefit of recanalization” model. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2008; 29: 1471– 75 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 66. Maas MB, Lev MH, Ay H, et al. Collateral vessels on CT angiography predict outcome in acute ischemic stroke. Stroke 2009; 40: 3001– 05 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 67. Lima FO, Furie KL, Silva GS, et al. The pattern of leptomeningeal collaterals on CT angiography is a strong predictor of long-term functional outcome in stroke patients with large vessel intracranial occlusion. Stroke 41: 2316– 22 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 68. Schramm P, Schellinger PD, Fiebach JB, et al. Comparison of CT and CT angiography source images with diffusion-weighted imaging in patients with acute stroke within 6 hours after onset. Stroke 2002; 33: 2426– 32 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 69. Tan JC, Dillon WP, Liu S, et al. Systematic comparison of perfusion-CT and CT-angiography in acute stroke patients. Ann Neurol 2007; 61: 533– 43 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 70. Wildermuth S, Knauth M, Brandt T, et al. Role of CT angiography in patient selection for thrombolytic therapy in acute hemispheric stroke. Stroke 1998; 29: 935– 38 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 71. Knauth M, von Kummer R, Jansen O, et al. Potential of CT angiography in acute ischemic stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1997; 18: 1001– 10 [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 72. Tan IY, Demchuk AM, Hopyan J, et al. CT angiography clot burden score and collateral score: correlation with clinical and radiologic outcomes in acute middle cerebral artery infarct. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009; 30: 525– 31 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 73. Soares BP, Tong E, Hom J, et al. Reperfusion is a more accurate predictor of follow-up infarct volume than recanalization: a proof of concept using CT in acute ischemic stroke patients. Stroke 2010; 41: e34– 40. Epub 2009 Nov 12 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 74. Kaps M, Damian MS, Teschendorf U, et al. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound findings in middle cerebral artery occlusion. Stroke 1990; 21: 532– 37 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 75. Reinhard M, Muller T, Guschlbauer B, et al. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation and collateral flow patterns in patients with severe carotid stenosis or occlusion. Ultrasound Med Biol 2003; 29: 1105– 13 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 76. Reinhard M, Muller T, Roth M, et al. Bilateral severe carotid artery stenosis or occlusion: cerebral autoregulation dynamics and collateral flow patterns. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 2003; 145: 1053– 59, discussion 1059–60 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 77. Zanette EM, Roberti C, Mancini G, et al. Spontaneous middle cerebral artery reperfusion in ischemic stroke: a follow-up study with transcranial Doppler. Stroke 1995; 26: 430– 33 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 78. Chalela JA, Alsop DC, Gonzalez-Atavales JB, et al. Magnetic resonance perfusion imaging in acute ischemic stroke using continuous arterial spin labeling. Stroke 2000; 31: 680– 87 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 79. Hermier M, Ibrahim AS, Wiart M, et al. The delayed perfusion sign at MRI. J Neuroradiol 2003; 30: 172– 79 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 80. Hermier M, Nighoghossian N, Derex L, et al. Hypointense leptomeningeal vessels at T2*-weighted MRI in acute ischemic stroke. Neurology 2005; 65: 652– 53 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 81. Lee KY, Latour LL, Luby M, et al. Distal hyperintense vessels on flair: an MRI marker for collateral circulation in acute stroke? Neurology 2009; 72: 1134– 39 [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 82. Schomer DF, Marks MP, Steinberg GK, et al. The anatomy of the posterior communicating artery as a risk factor for ischemic cerebral infarction. N Engl J Med 1994; 330: 1565– 70 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 83. Ruland S, Ahmed A, Thomas K, et al. Leptomeningeal collateral volume flow assessed by quantitative magnetic resonance angiography in large-vessel cerebrovascular disease. J Neuroimaging 2009; 19: 27– 30 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 84. Martel AL, Allder SJ, Delay GS, et al. Perfusion MRI of infarcted and noninfarcted brain tissue in stroke: a comparison of conventional hemodynamic imaging and factor analysis of dynamic studies. Invest Radiol 2001; 36: 378– 85 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 85. Liebeskind D. Intravascular deoxygenation of leptomeningeal collaterals detected with gradient-echo MRI. Stroke 2004; 35: 266 [Google Scholar]
  • 86. Hennerici M, Rautenberg W, Schwartz A. Transcranial Doppler ultrasound for the assessment of intracranial arterial flow velocity. Part 2. Evaluation of intracranial arterial disease. Surg Neurol 1987; 27: 523– 32 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 87. The Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) trial phase I findings: TIMI study group. N Engl J Med 1985; 312: 932– 36 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 88. Saito I, Segawa H, Shiokawa Y, et al. Middle cerebral artery occlusion: correlation of computed tomography and angiography with clinical outcome. Stroke 1987; 18: 863– 68 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 89. Siebert E, Bohner G, Dewey M, et al. 320-slice CT neuroimaging: initial clinical experience and image quality evaluation. Br J Radiol 2009; 82: 561– 70. Epub 2009 Feb 16 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 90. Marinoni M, Ginanneschi A, Forleo P, et al. Technical limits in transcranial Doppler recording: on adequate acoustic windows. Ultrasound Med Biol 1997; 23: 1275– 77 [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from AJNR: American Journal of Neuroradiology are provided here courtesy of American Society of Neuroradiology

RESOURCES