Fazekas Scale (White Matter Lesions)
Fazekas (1987)The standard visual rating of white matter hyperintensities on T2/FLAIR. Periventricular and deep white matter are each graded 0–3; both subscales and their descriptive sum are reported.
Also searched as: small vessel disease · mri · leukoaraiosis · dementia · ms lesions
Information
Incomplete input
- Please provide: periventricular grade (0–3), deep white matter grade (0–3).
How this tool works
The Fazekas scale (1987) grades white matter signal abnormalities in two regions. Periventricular hyperintensity: 0 absent; 1 caps or pencil-thin lining; 2 smooth halo; 3 irregular signal extending into the deep white matter. Deep white matter hyperintensity: 0 absent; 1 punctate foci; 2 beginning confluence; 3 large confluent areas. Reports conventionally state both subscales (e.g. Fazekas 2/1); a descriptive sum (0–6) is provided here for convenience. Burden correlates with age, vascular risk factors, cognitive decline and stroke risk.
References
- Fazekas F, et al. AJR 1987;149:351–6
- White matter hyperintensity rating scales review (PMC)
- Radiopaedia: Fazekas scale
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