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Artifactual basilar artery stenosis due to metallic stent

Case contributed by Chris O'Donnell
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Previous history of pontine infarction treated with vascular stent for focal stenosis. New onset of neurological symptoms. ?patency of the stent

Patient Data

Age: 55 years
Gender: Male

Apparent high-grade stenosis in the proximal basilar artery. However, note rim of low signal intensity on the source MRA images and the susceptibility artifact on the SWI study, indicating this represents a metallic stent.

Assess the stent patency

ct

CT angiogram less affected by metallic artifact shows that the stent is patent especially on the curved MPR (arrow)

Case Discussion

This case demonstrates that MRI artifacts caused by metallic stents can mimic arterial stenosis, while the stent is much more obvious on CT.

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