PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Matthew D Alexander AU - Chun Yuan AU - Aaron Rutman AU - David L Tirschwell AU - Gerald Palagallo AU - Dheeraj Gandhi AU - Laligam N Sekhar AU - Mahmud Mossa-Basha TI - High-resolution intracranial vessel wall imaging: imaging beyond the lumen AID - 10.1136/jnnp-2015-312020 DP - 2016 Jun 01 TA - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry PG - 589--597 VI - 87 IP - 6 4099 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/6/589.short 4100 - http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/87/6/589.full SO - J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry2016 Jun 01; 87 AB - Accurate and timely diagnosis of intracranial vasculopathies is important due to significant risk of morbidity with delayed and/or incorrect diagnosis both from the disease process as well as inappropriate therapies. Conventional vascular imaging techniques for analysis of intracranial vascular disease provide limited information since they only identify changes to the vessel lumen. New advanced MR intracranial vessel wall imaging (IVW) techniques can allow direct characterisation of the vessel wall. These techniques can advance diagnostic accuracy and may potentially improve patient outcomes by better guided treatment decisions in comparison to previously available invasive and non-invasive techniques. While neuroradiological expertise is invaluable in accurate examination interpretation, clinician familiarity with the application and findings of the various vasculopathies on IVW can help guide diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making. This review article provides a brief overview of the technical aspects of IVW and discusses the IVW findings of various intracranial vasculopathies, differentiating characteristics and indications for when this technique can be beneficial in patient management.