Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Ischaemia / Infarction, Audit and standards, MR-Diffusion/Perfusion, CT, Neuroradiology brain
Authors:
Z. Hussein, T. Ashraf; Pilgrim Hospital, Boston/UK
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2013/C-1094
Learning objectives
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is a highly sensitive tool for detection of early changes in water diffusion that characterize many brain pathologies,
including acute ischemic stroke.
An accurate and early diagnosis of ischemic strokes is critical to ensure patient receives prompt treatment,
improves chances of survival and recovery.
Findings from a physical examination and patient history cannot always help determine an accurate diagnosis and it could be very frustrating for Clinician to start thrombolytic therapy without evidence on the scans.
To determine acute stroke and other causes of acute neurologic deficits,
patients have,
until recently,
been examined with head computed tomography (CT) and conventional brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging .
The results of these investigations have indicated that in the hyperacute stroke period (0–6 hours after onset of symptoms),
CT and MR imaging yield a sensitivity of less than 50%.
diffusion-weighted (DW) MR imaging In many studies has been shown to be more sensitive (range,
88%–100%),
specific (range,
86%–100%),
and more accurate than CT and MR imaging