Cerebral microbleed detection and mapping: Principles, methodological aspects and rationale in vascular dementia

► Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are detected on T2*-GRE or SWI MR sequences. ► CMBs are currently defined as small, rounded, homogeneous, hypointense lesions. ► Their detection will vary with sequence parameters (e.g. echo time, field strength). ► In identifying CMBs care must be taken to distinguish them from several “mimics”. ► More advanced methods for CMB detection and mapping are emerging.