MR imaging in hyperacute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Brain and vascular imaging are required components of the emergency assessment of patients with suspected stroke. Either CT or MRI may be used as the initial imaging test. MRI is more sensitive to the presence of acute and chronic ischemic lesions, and chronic microbleeds, but CT remains the most practical and used initial brain imaging test. Although, a non-enhanced CT or T2* MRI sequence showing no haemorrhage is sufficient for deciding intravenous treatment eligibility within the first 4.5h after stroke onset, a non-invasive intracranial vascular study is strongly recommended during the initial imaging evaluation of the acute stroke patient, particularly if mechanical thrombectomy is contemplated. Advanced imaging with multimodal MRI may facilitate accurate ischemic stroke diagnosis and characterization, and should be considered as an alternative to CT, especially for the selection of patients for acute reperfusion therapy in extended time windows, and in patients in which time of stroke onset is unknown. However, MRI should only be considered in the acute stroke workflow if centres are able to achieve speed and triaging efficiency similar to that which is currently available with CT-based imaging.

Keywords: Brain infraction; MRI; Perfusion; Reperfusion therapies; Stroke.