ESOC 2021 | Detection of covert brain lesions in patients with SVD using MRI scans

Anil Man Tuladhar, MD, PhD, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands, provides an overview of covert brain lesions and how they are associated with stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia. These lesions are often detected in healthy populations and they can be classified based on location and size. Dr Tuladhar talks on a high frequency MRI study which investigated the prevalence of small subcortical infarcts in over 50 individuals with sporadic cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). By performing monthly MRI scans, these lesions were found in approximately 70% of patients, but were not associated with any clinical symptoms. Some lesions evolved into white matter hyperintensities (WMH), lacunes or microbleeds, but most seemed to disappear on follow-up MRI scans. Dr Tuladhar also shares his insight into further work required in this area, such as in-depth study on the underlying etiology of covert brain lesions and the risk factors associated with their development. This interview took place at the European Stroke Organisation Conference (ESOC), 2021.