Objective To use high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) for studying the vascular remodeling and plaque characteristics of two types of basilar atherosclerotic infarction:branch occlusive disease (BOD) and non-BOD. Methods Thirty-two patients with symptomatic basilar artery stenosis were divided into BOD and non-BOD groups, with 18 patients in BOD group and 14 in non-BOD group. All the patients received 3.0T HR-MRI enhancement scanning for the basilar artery wall. The wall thickness and plaque area of steno-occlusive basilar artery at the maximal stenosis were measured and analyzed, so as to assess the vascular remodeling and plaque characteristics. Results HR-MRI scanning showed that the stenosis of non-BOD group was more obvious than that of BOD group ([68.9±19.1]% vs[43.8±18.8]%, P=0.017). Compared with BOD group, positive remodeling was more frequently observed in non-BOD (57.2% vs 16.7%, P=0.036). The wall area index of BOD group was also significantly lower than that of non-BOD group (P<0.001). Eccentric enhancement was the main form for the two types of basilar atherosclerotic infarction in study, and the plaque enhancements were not significantly different between BOD and non-BOD groups (P=0.196); however, the enhancement degree of BOD group was significantly milder than that of the non-BOD group ([39.9±23.2]% vs[65.3±21.1]%, P=0.004). Conclusion BOD and non-BOD have different vascular remodelings and plaque characteristics.