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Abstract #3307

Calculation of Wall Shear Stress in Intracranial Cerebral Aneurysms using High Resolution Phase Contrast MRA (PC-VIPR)

Warren Chang1, Steven Kecskemeti2, Alex Frydrychowicz1, Benjamin Landgraf1, Beverly Aagaard-Kienitz1, Yijing Wu2, Kevin Johnson2, Oliver Wieben2, Charles Mistretta2, Patrick Turski1

1Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, United States; 2Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI, United States


Wall shear stress (WSS) may have prognostic value in evaluating the progression of intracranial cerebral aneurysms. Abnormal WSS values are found in areas of complex flow, leading to the growth and rupture of aneurysms. In this study, we evaluate WSS values in 6 patients with aneurysms compared to values from similar arterial segments in 10 normal volunteers. Patients with aneurysms demonstrated higher WSS values proximal to the aneurysm neck and lower WSS values inside the body of the aneurysm. This is consistent with current theories in the literature attributing high WSS to aneurysm formation and low WSS to aneurysm progression.