Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Neuroradiology brain, MR, MR-Diffusion/Perfusion, Diagnostic procedure, Imaging sequences, Ischaemia / Infarction
Authors:
M. Saenz, L. Antón, J. J. Gómez, M. D. M. Sarmiento, E. Onís, C. García De Andoin Sojo, I. Alonso, U. Oiartzabal, I. Aza; Bilbao/ES
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2021/C-12492
Background
Brain stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In 2016, there were approximately 80,1 million prevalent cases and 13,7 million new cases globally.
Ischemic strokes account for approximately %80-85 of the cases, while the remaining %15-20 are hemorrhagic.
Approximately one-third of the ischemic strokes happen in the vertebrobasilar system. Half of them occur in the brainstem, which is therefore affected in about %10-15 of all ischemic strokes.
Unlike CT, which has a low sensitivity for posterior fossa ischemic stroke diagnosis, high-resolution MR images allow much better detection and spatial location of the ischemic lesions. Imaging findings can be subtle and may be missed by a radiologist unfamiliar with both the complex anatomy and the typical location-related symptomatology of the brainstem.