Comparison of SVID and metastases by MRI and age:

<p>A) Radiologic evaluation of SVID and metastases was based on comparison of post-contrast and FLAIR images. Note that metastases were obviously demarcated after gadolinium (Gd) injections, while SVID visible in FLAIR were not. The <i>red circles</i> refer to the locations of SVID or metastases in FLAIR or post-Gd images. B) Age distribution of patients affected by SVID or metastases. Patients with no metastases were younger than those with metastatic brain tumor; patients with SVID were significantly older than those without small vessel disease.</p

Relationship between SVID severity and metastatic brain tumor:

<p>The data are presented as % (filled symbols) or as a ratio between SVID severity in the two subsets of patients.</p

SVID grading methods, brain metastases identification, and metastatic distribution:

<p>A) Grading for SVID: deep white matter hyperintense signals, periventricular hyperintensity, and combined. Each represents the SVID distribution of grades of those with and without brain metastases. Differences were significant for deep white matter hyperintensity (p = 0.04), periventricular hyperintensity (p = 0.01), and the combined (p = 0.02). B) MRI image with gadolinium contrast demonstrates the protocol used to count identifiable metastases. These are indicated by empty red circles. C) Distribution of metastases in different CNS regions. Note that in the region where SVID are most common (cerebrum) there was a statistically significant difference in the number of metastases as predicted by a protective effect of SVID against tumor growth. See text for details.</p

Characteristics of lung cancer patients compared between those who presented with and those who presented without brain metastases.

<p>SD = standard deviation, SVID = small vessel ischemic disease.</p