Changes of prominent vessel sign and susceptibility vessel sign in acute ischemic stroke patients with and without successful recanalization: a study based on susceptibility weighted images

Objectives To investigate the changes of prominent vessel sign (PVS) and susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with successful and non-successful vascular recanalization treatment, and to study the associations between the susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) findings and early clinical and imaging prognosis.Methods Thirty-five patients with the acute MCA territory infarction were retrospectively included and classified into Groupre (n = 25) and Groupnon (n = 10) according to the success of vascular recanalization. NIHSS was used for clinical assessment. PVS and DWI were analyzed using ASPECT scores. Baseline, post-treatment, the changes of PVS and SVS, and SVS length were recorded and compared between two groups. Correlation analysis was performed between SWI factors and early post-treatment clinical and imaging factors.Results The mean PVSpre value was 5.20 ± 1.76 and PVSpost was 8.20 ± 1.86. PVSpre and PVSpost showed statistical significance between Groupre and Groupnon (both p < 0.001). A significant difference wasfound in SVSpost(+) (p < 0.001), SVSpost-pre(+) (p = 0.001), SVSpost-pre length (p = 0.036) and SVSpost length (p = 0.001) between the two groups. A positive correlation was found between PVSpre and DWIpost (p < 0.001, r = 0.564). There were positive correlations between PVS-DWI mismatch and NIHSSpost in Groupre (p = 0.042, r = 0.410) and in Groupnon (p = 0.006, r = 0.789).Conclusions PVS and SVS changes are influenced by the success of vascular recanalization. However, the changes are unrelated to either early clinical or imaging outcomes in AIS patients. PVS-DWI mismatch can be taken as an imaging biomarker for early clinical outcomes, both for patients with or without successful vascular recanalization.