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. 2024 Jan-Mar;14(1):17-25.
doi: 10.4103/jwas.jwas_9_23. Epub 2023 Dec 14.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Infarct Volume Correlates with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Echotexture in Ischemic Stroke

Oghenetejiri Denise Ogholoh  1 , Augustine Chukwueloke Enyi  1 , Bukunmi Michael Idowu  2 , Anthony Osayomwanbor Ogbeide  1 , Joyce Ekeme Ikubor  1 , Nkem Nnenna Nwafor  3 , Nicholas Kogha  1
Affiliations

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Infarct Volume Correlates with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque Echotexture in Ischemic Stroke

Oghenetejiri Denise Ogholoh et al. J West Afr Coll Surg. 2024 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the correlation between cerebral infarct volume, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and plaque echotexture in patients with ischemic stroke.

Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 70 patients with ischemic stroke who were imaged using the head coil of a 1.5T Toshiba magnetic resonance machine. The volumes of infarcts were documented and calculated using the manual tracing of the infarct perimeter method. The common carotid CIMT was measured on ultrasound using a linear high-frequency 7.5 MHz transducer.

Results: Seventy subjects were evaluated. The mean magnetic resonance imaging cerebral infarct volume was 8.07% volume. Hyperechoic plaques were the most prevalent (36.7%) compared to the hypoechoic (33.3%) and isoechoic (30%) plaques. There was a moderate positive correlation between CIMT and infarct volume (r = 0.70; P = 0.001) in the entire study population. Similarly, positive correlations between CIMT and infarct volume were recorded in both the male (r = 0.73; P = 0.001) and female (r = 0.67; P = 0.001) subjects. Furthermore, subjects who presented in the acute phase (1-3 days) of ictus showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.621; P = 0.0001) between CIMT and infarct volume, while there was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.74; P = 0.0001) in subjects that presented in the subacute phase (4-7 days).

Conclusion: Common carotid artery CIMT correlated positively with cerebral infarct volume in patients with ischemic stroke. Furthermore, hyperechoic plaques were associated with significantly larger infarct volumes compared to hypoechoic and isoechoic plaques.

Keywords: Carotid intima–media thickness; hypertension; infarct volume; stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Axial DWI image of the brain shows an acute cerebral infarct (A). The perimeter of the infarct is traced to get the area of the infarct. This measurement is repeated for all slices with the infarct, and all are summed up to give the total area of the infarct. (B) Shows measurement of the area of the brain in one slice - the perimeter of the brain is traced as shown, repeated for all the slices that show the brain, and summed up to get the total area of the brain
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scatter plot of infarct volume and carotid intima–media thickness according to duration since onset of symptoms
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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