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The recent research development of susceptibility vessel sign in acute ischemic stroke
GENG Yue  CHEN Yuang  ZHANG Mi  LI Junchen  TAN Yanhuan 

Cite this article as: GENG Y, CHEN Y A, ZHANG M, et al. The recent research development of susceptibility vessel sign in acute ischemic stroke[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025, 16(5): 198-203. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.05.030.


[Abstract] Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) represents a significant global public health challenge, characterized by high disability and mortality rates. It has emerged as the leading cause of death in China, with a notable upward trend in incidence among middle-aged and younger populations. The primary etiology of this condition is vascular occlusion caused by thrombus formation, rendering early thrombus detection and compositional analysis critical for informing clinical treatment strategies. While the susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) observed on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) demonstrates high sensitivity and specificity for detecting arterial thrombosis, it is not universally present in all acute ischemic stroke cases. Current research has yet to systematically elucidate the formation mechanisms of SVS or the underlying reasons for discrepancies in its clinical applications, resulting in underexplored diagnostic potential of this imaging biomarker. This article aims to contribute to the optimization of clinical diagnostic and therapeutic protocols for AIS by conducting a systematic review of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying SVS and its evolving applications in AIS management. With particular emphasis on three pivotal dimensions: visualization of culprit intravascular thrombi, determination of stroke subtypes, and prognostic evaluation, we subsequently delineate contemporary challenges in clinical translation and propose prospective research trajectories. This article proposes that future research should integrate thrombus biomarkers with SWI to develop predictive models for the manifestation of the SVS. Furthermore, we recommend that clinical practice incorporate multimodal imaging parameters to optimize thrombus characterization analysis, thereby enabling the formulation of personalized recanalization therapeutic strategies. These advancements ultimately aim to enhance precision in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of acute ischemic stroke.
[Keywords] acute ischemic stroke；magnetic resonance imaging；susceptibility-weighted imaging；susceptibility vessel sign

GENG Yue   CHEN Yuang   ZHANG Mi   LI Junchen   TAN Yanhuan*  

Department of Radiology, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Changshu 215500, China

Corresponding author: TAN Y H, E-mail: tanyanhuan@njucm.edu.cn

Conflicts of interest   None.

Received  2025-01-23
Accepted  2025-05-10
DOI: 10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.05.030
Cite this article as: GENG Y, CHEN Y A, ZHANG M, et al. The recent research development of susceptibility vessel sign in acute ischemic stroke[J]. Chin J Magn Reson Imaging, 2025, 16(5): 198-203. DOI:10.12015/issn.1674-8034.2025.05.030.

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