Applications of diffusion-perfusion magnetic resonance imaging in acute ischemic stroke.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and perfusion imaging (PI) are two new magnetic resonance technologies that are becoming increasingly available for evaluation of acute ischemic stroke patients. DWI provides information about the location of acute focal ischemic brain injury at early time points and PI can document the presence of disturbances in microcirculatory perfusion. DWI and PI are now being used in clinical practice and in clinical trials of potential acute stroke therapies to assess their utility. In the future, DWI and PI may aid in the development of effective acute stroke therapies and help identify which stroke patients are most likely to benefit from specific agents.     

Echoplanar magnetic resonance imaging in acute stroke.

Echoplanar magnetic resonance imaging (EPI) enables rapid, non-invasive imaging and analysis of cerebral pathophysiology in acute stroke. It represents an important clinical advance over computed tomography (CT) and conventional magnetic resonance (MR) scanning. It can rapidly delineate infarcted cerebral tissue and distinguish acute from chronic stroke. In addition, EPI has the potential to quickly determine the presence and degree of potentially viable brain tissue in the ischaemic penumbra. Thrombolysis is thought to reperfuse the penumbra and hence reduce infarct size. The thrombolytic agent tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) improves outcome in ischaemic stroke when administered within the first 3 hours of onset. However, there is a significant risk of haemorrhage, and the time window for benefit may well exceed 3 hours in some patients. Hence, by facilitating diagnosis of 'at-risk' tissue in the ischaemic penumbra, a major clinical role of EPI may well become the rational selection of patients for acute interventional stroke therapy.     

Triaging transient ischemic attack and minor stroke patients using acute magnetic resonance imaging

We examined whether the presence of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions and vessel occlusion on acute brain magnetic resonance images of minor stroke and transient ischemic attack patients predicted the occurrence of subsequent stroke and functional outcome. 120 transient ischemic attack or minor stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale < or = 3) patients were prospectively enrolled. All were examined within 12 hours and had a magnetic resonance scan within 24 hours. Overall, the 90-day risk for recurrent stroke was 11.7%. Patients with a DWI lesion were at greater risk for having a subsequent stroke than patients without and risk was greatest in the presence of vessel occlusion and a DWI lesion. The 90-day risk rates, adjusted for baseline characteristics, were 4.3% (no DWI lesion), 10.8% (DWI lesion but no vessel occlusion), and 32.6% (DWI lesion and vessel occlusion) (p = 0.02). The percentages of patients who were functionally dependent at 90 days in the three groups were 1.9%, 6.2%, and 21.0%, respectively (p = 0.04). The presence of a DWI lesion and a vessel occlusion on a magnetic resonance image among patients presenting acutely with a transient ischemic attack or minor stroke is predictive of an increased risk for future stroke and functional dependence.     

Fast magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging of acute human stroke.

Rapid MRI of the molecular diffusion of water demonstrated cerebral infarcts in 32 patients. We studied these patients at various times following the onset of ischemic symptoms and found that diffusion-weighted imaging revealed the infarcts sooner than conventional T2-weighted spin-echo imaging did; four hyperacute infarcts were shown only by diffusion-weighted imaging. Acute infarcts had lower apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) than noninfarcted regions did. This relative difference in ADC reached a nadir in the first 24 hours and rose progressively thereafter. Chronic infarcts showed a relative increase in diffusion and were readily distinguishable from acute infarcts. The technique takes less than 2 minutes to apply using a standard 1.5-tesla scanner in the clinical setting. Diffusion-weighted imaging has the potential to play a role in improving the early anatomic diagnosis of stroke and therefore in the development and implementation of early stroke interventions.     

急性缺血性脑卒中伴发抑郁障碍的静息态脑功能磁共振成像研究

目的利用静息态脑功能磁共振成像(rsfMRI)技术探讨急性缺血性脑卒中伴发抑郁障碍患者的脑功能情况。方法对13例急性缺血性脑卒中伴发抑郁障碍患者(病例组)及13名性别、年龄、优势手与之相匹配的健康对照(对照组),进行常规MRI、rsfMRI扫描并采集图像,包括矢状位T1WI和轴位T1WI、T2WI、FLAIR、DWI像,以及rsfMRI图像,分析比较两组的局部一致性(regional homogeneity,ReHo)。结果病例组与对照组相比,双额上回内侧、左颞下回、左顶下小叶、右角回、右扣带回中部及右小脑的ReHo降低(P<0.01);右枕叶中部、双楔叶及距状沟的ReHo增高(P<0.01)。结论急性缺血性脑卒中伴发抑郁障碍患者在静息状态下存在多个脑区功能异常。     

Scattered brain infarct pattern on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Infarct patterns on brain imaging contribute to the etiologic classification of ischemic stroke. However, the association of specific subtypes of infarcts and etiologic mechanisms is often weak, and acute lesions are frequently missed on initial computed tomography (CT). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is superior in visualizing acute ischemic lesions as compared to CT and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In our prospective study, we addressed the question whether a distinct pattern of infarction on DWI is associated with infarct etiology and clinical outcome. METHODS: Sixty-two patients with clinical signs of acute ischemic stroke and negative acute CT upon admission underwent DWI within 10 days after the ictus. Neurological status was documented using the NIH stroke scale. A scattered lesion pattern was defined by at least 2 separate hyperintense DWI lesions within the territory of one of the major cerebral arteries. Ischemic lesions were defined as acute if the region was demarcated strongly hyperintense in all DW images, and if the apparent diffusion coefficient was below normal. RESULTS: In 32 patients, DWI revealed a scattered lesion pattern, while in 30 patients a single acute lesion was detected. In patients with scattered lesions, potential arterial or cardiac embolic sources were detected in 26 patients (81.3%), as compared to 5 patients (16.6%) in the group with single lesions (chi(2) test, p < 0.0001). The neurological status of patients with scattered lesions improved significantly more than among patients with single lesions (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.0003). CONCLUSION: A scattered lesion pattern on DWI in patients with acute brain infarction and negative initial CT scan is associated with an embolic etiology and may indicate a favorable clinical outcome.     

Combined magnetic resonance imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of patients with acute stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The prospect for a therapeutic window for treatment of ischemic stroke encourages the noninvasive investigation of metabolic changes in acute ischemia. Recently, localized proton spectroscopy became available at 1.5-T magnetic resonance systems. In this study we evaluated the usefulness of combined magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy on the diagnosis of acute and chronic infarctions. METHODS: Combined magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy investigations were carried out with a 1.5-T system in 16 volunteers, eight patients with chronic infarction (greater than 8 months), and 10 patients with acute ischemic stroke (less than 8 hours). We used a stimulated echo sequence to acquire localized spectra from image-guided volumes of interest (16-27 ml). RESULTS: There were no significant interindividual differences of choline, creatine, phosphocreatine, and N-acetyl aspartate resonances in the spectra from volunteers. In chronic infarctions, N-acetyl aspartate was decreased in relation to choline. Acute ischemic infarctions were characterized by decreased N-acetyl aspartate resonances and elevation of lactate. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrates the feasibility of proton spectroscopy in stroke patients. Metabolic alterations in ischemic tissue can be monitored and can distinguish acute from chronic lesions.     

急性缺血性卒中常规磁共振成像血管内高信号回顾性研究

目的 明确常规磁共振对于血管高信号的展示及其临床意义。方法 回顾总结浙江大学医学院附属第一医院2010年1-12月的急性缺血性卒中患者。所有患者均行常规磁共振检查。结果 我院神经内科共收住急性脑梗死患者280例,均符合脑血管病诊断标准。血管内异常信号患者共26例,出现率为9.29％。前循环异常信号14例,其中颈内动脉高信号11例,大脑前动脉高信号2例,大脑中动脉合并大脑前动脉高信号1例;在颈内动脉血管内高信号11例患者中,MRA证实14支颈内动脉血管狭窄,对血管病变的特异度100％,敏感度78.6％;后循环共12例,其中椎动脉高信号5例,基底动脉3例,基底动脉合并椎动脉高信号4例;1例患者未行MRA检查,11例患者MRA证实14支血管存在病变,椎动脉和基底动脉内高信号11例,特异度为100％,敏感度为78.5％。结论 常规磁共振序列对于血管内高信号的展示具有很高的临床特异度,其血管病变与MRA的结果具有一致性。     

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and acute ischemic stroke: a diffusion- and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging study.

Diffusion- and perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to study the putative effects of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism in stroke. Thirty-one patients with acute stroke, comparative for age and gender were scanned, nine of whom were ApoE allele epsilon 4 carriers. Initially, less than 24 hours from the onset of stroke, the epsilon 4 carriers had significantly smaller volumes of hypoperfusion on relative cerebral blood volume map (P = 0.001), and smaller infarct volumes (P = 0.008) compared with the noncarriers. By day 8, this difference in the infarct volumes had disappeared, suggesting relatively enhanced infarct growth. On average, the total infarct volume increased 145% of the initial infarct volume in the epsilon 4 carriers, and 84% in the noncarriers. There were strong correlations between the imaging findings and clinical status initially and with the outcome 3 months after the stroke in the epsilon 4 noncarriers, but, with a single exception at acute phase, a lack thereof in the epsilon 4 carriers. These patterns were virtually similar in a subgroup of patients with middle cerebral artery stroke. These data support the hypothesis of increased general vulnerability of the brain in the epsilon 4 carriers. Thus, the effects of ApoE polymorphism should be accounted for when interpreting diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI studies, particularly if predicting lesion growth.     

Crossed cerebellar diaschisis after acute ischemic stroke detected by intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging

Neurological Sciences - To study the value of 3.0&nbsp;T magnetic resonance imaging with intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) in the diagnosis of the crossed cerebellar diaschisis (CCD) after...     

Advantages of adding diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to conventional magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating acute stroke

BACKGROUND: Accurate localization of acute ischemic lesions in patients with an acute stroke may aid in understanding the etiology of their stroke and may improve the management of these patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the yield of adding diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) to a conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for acute stroke. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: A referral center. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke who presented within 48 hours after symptom onset were included. An MRI scan was obtained within 48 hours after symptom onset. A neuroradiologist (A.M.N.) and a stroke neurologist (G.W.A.) independently identified suspected acute ischemic lesions on MRI sequences in the following order: (1) T2-weighted and proton density-weighted images, (2) fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images, and (3) diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diagnostic yield and interrater reliability for the identification of acute lesions, and confidence and conspicuity ratings of acute lesions for different MRI sequences. RESULTS: Conventional MRI correctly identified at least one acute lesion in 71% (34/48) to 80% (39/49) of patients who had an acute stroke; with the addition of DWI, this percentage increased to 94% (46/49) (P<.001). Conventional MRI showed only moderate sensitivity (50%-60%) and specificity (49%-69%) compared with a "criterion standard." Based on the diffusion-weighted sequence, interrater reliability for identifying acute lesions was moderate for conventional MRI (kappa = 0.5-0.6) and good for DWI (kappa = 0.8). The observers' confidence with which lesions were rated as acute and the lesion conspicuity was significantly (P<.01) higher for DWI than for conventional MRI. CONCLUSION: During the first 48 hours after symptom onset, the addition of DWI to conventional MRI improves the accuracy of identifying acute ischemic brain lesions in patients who experienced a stroke.     

Clinical utility of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of ischemic stroke

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) detects small changes in water diffusion that occur in ischemic brain. This study evaluated the clinical usefulness of a phase-navigated spin-echo DWI sequence compared with T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2W MRI) in patients with cerebral ischemia and assessed apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) changes over time. ADC values and T2 ratios of image intensity were measured from the region of ischemia and from the corresponding contralateral brain region. The clinical histories of patients with DWI scans obtained over the course of 1 year were reviewed to ascertain whether DWI aided in clinical diagnosis or management. Of 103 scans obtained a mean of 10.4 days after symptom onset, DWI detected six lesions not seen on T2WI and discriminated two new infarcts from old lesions. DWI was most useful within 48 hours of the ictus. The evolution of ADC values and T2 ratios was evaluated in 26 cases with known symptom onset times. ADC values were low at less than 1 week after stroke onset and became elevated at chronic time points. T2 ratios were near normal acutely, increasing thereafter. DWI was superior to T2W MRI in detecting acute stroke, whereas both techniques assisted in determining lesion age.     

磁共振血管成像-弥散成像不匹配对预测急性缺血性脑卒中缺血半暗带的价值

目的研究急性缺血性脑卒中（AIS）超早期磁共振血管成像（MRA）一弥散成像（DWI）不匹配对预测缺血半暗带的价值。方法选择在发病6h内完成MRA、DWI及灌注成像（PWI）检查的大脑中动脉供血区脑梗死患者，MRA—DWI桓Ⅱ体女不匹配定义为MRA示大脑中动脉M1段闭塞，DWI的梗死体积〈25ml；MRA—DWI梗Ⅱ部＆不匹配定义为M1段闭塞，DWI的梗死部位评分（以Alberta梗死早期CT评分评价）≥7。结果共入选78例患者，MRA—DWI梗死体积不匹配预测：PWI—DWI不匹配的特异度为100％，灵敏度仅为46％。MRA—DWI梗Ⅱ部＆不匹配预测：PWI—DWI不匹配的特异度为100％，灵敏度为42．9％。结论AIS超早期MRA．DWI不匹配预测缺血半暗带有很高的特异度，可作为筛选进行溶栓治疗患者的手段。     

Dominant ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery on magnetic resonance angiography in acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: In acute infarction involving the anterior circulation, the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery (PCA) often appears to be longer than the contralateral PCA on magnetic resonance angiography. We described this finding as dominant ipsilateral PCA (DIPCA). We sought to find the frequency of DIPCA and its predictors. METHODS: We recruited 164 consecutive individuals with acute infarct involving the anterior circulation, and analyzed their radiological and clinical features. RESULTS: DIPCA was noted in 27 patients (16.5%). It was more frequent in patients with than in patients without steno-occlusive disease of the ipsilateral anterior circulation (30.5 vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between the severity of arterial lesions in the ipsilateral anterior circulation and DIPCA (p = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: DIPCA may reflect increased leptomeningeal collateral flow via the ipsilateral PCA, and its development may be dependent on the stenotic anterior circulation.     

Apparent diffusion coefficient decreases and magnetic resonance imaging perfusion parameters are associated in ischemic tissue of acute stroke patients.

Perfusion-and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans are thought to allow the characterization of tissue at risk of infarction. The authors tested the hypothesis that the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) decrease should be associated with the severity of the perfusion deficit in ischemic tissue of acute stroke patients. Perfusion-and diffusion-weighted scans were performed in 11 patients with sudden onset of neurologic deficits within the last 6 hours and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained after 6 days. Parameter images of the maximum of the contrast agent concentration, time to peak, relative cerebral blood volume, relative cerebral blood flow, and relative mean transit time were computed from the perfusion-weighted data. A threshold function was used to identify tissue volumes with stepwise ADC decreases. An onionlike distribution of successively decreasing ADC values was found, with the lowest ADC in the center of the ischemic region. Correspondingly, tissue perfusion decreased progressively from the periphery toward the ischemic core. This effect was most pronounced in the time-to-peak maps, with a linear association between ADC decrease and time-to-peak increase. Apparent diffusion coefficient values decreased from the periphery toward the ischemic core, and this distribution of ADC values was strongly associated with the severity of the perfusion deficit.