Imaging of acute cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the developed world and the leading cause of adult disability. The goals of an imaging evaluation for acute stroke when presented with patients with raised clinical suspicion of an acute stroke are to obtain accurate information about the momentary state of brain tissue. A comprehensive evaluation is best achieved with a combination of computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging technique. Unenhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can help rule out hemorrhage and identify early morphologic signs of acute brain ischemia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance perfusion imaging and magnetic resonance diffusion weight imaging, can help depict unsalvageable ischemic brain tissue and the area of penumbra. Computed tomography angiography and magnetic resonance angiography are widely used techniques for assessment of both, the intracranial and neck circulation.

Keywords

• Infarct, penumbra, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography