Detection of acute thalamo-mesencephalic infarction: diffusion abnormality precedes T2 hyperintensity.

Journal article

OBJECTIVE: To examine the time course of signal changes in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and T2-weighted MRI in a case of cerebral infarction in the posterior circulation territory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diffusion- and T2-weighted MRI and comparison of signal changes in these sequences at 4 h, 1 day and 4 days after the onset of clinical symptoms caused by acute thalamo-mesencephalic infarction. RESULTS: Four hours after the onset of symptoms, signal changes in DW-MRI revealed an infarction in the territory of the posterior perforating thalamic artery, whereas no signal changes were detected in T2-weighted MRI. In follow-up MRI 1 and 4 days after infarction, however, a marked hyperintensity matching the location of the diffusion deficit could be identified in T2 images. CONCLUSION: Signal changes in DW-MRI precede T2 hyperintensity after infarction in the posterior circulation territory after hemispheric infarction.

Authors: Weise, J; Bähr, M; Strayle-Batra, M; Küker, W

• Journal: Acta neurologica Scandinavica
• Volume: 108
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 52-54
• Publication date: 2003-07-01
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2003.00094.x
• EISSN: 1600-0404
• ISSN: 0001-6314
• Language: English
• Keywords: Brain Infarction; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Adult; Thalamus; Male; Acute Disease; Time Factors; Mesencephalon; Humans; Disease Progression