Neuroimaging in small vessel disease

Abstract

The objective of this article is to review the literature on neuroimaging in small vessel disease. A review was carried out through the Pubmed search engine, without a filter of years, using terms such as: cerebral small vessel disease; white matter hyperintensity; brain microbleed; WBC. Small vessel disease is the most common vascular pathology. Its basis is in the affectation of the small cerebral vessels that eventually causes an alteration in the blood–brain barrier. Its clinical implication is highly relevant. Using magnetic resonance imaging, different expressions of the disease have been observed, such as white matter hyperintensities, microbleeds or lacunar infarcts. Other more recent techniques, such as brain blood flow measurements, are helping to increase understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease.