Ultrasound Measurements of Brain Tissue Pulsatility Correlate with the Volume of MRI White-Matter Hyperintensity

Abstract

White-matter hyperintensity (WMH) is frequently seen in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but the complete physiopathology of WMH remains to be elucidated. In this study, we sought to determine whether there is an association between the maximum brain tissue displacement (maxBTD), as assessed by ultrasound, and the WMH, as observed by MRI. Nine healthy women aged 60 to 85 years underwent ultrasound and MRI assessments. We found a significant negative correlation between maxBTD and WMH (ρ=-0.86, P<0.001), suggesting a link between cerebral hypoperfusion and WMH.