title: Diffusion MRI studies of experimental animal models and patients with stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This overview summarises the diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results both from the experimental animal model studies and clinical investigations in acute cerebral ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  An English literature searched using MEDLINE (1990-1997).
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 80 papers and reviews published in the last eight years and our partial results were selected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has been extensively used to study acute cerebral ischemia both in experimental animal models and in patients. DWI yields signal intensity contrast modulated by water molecular self-diffusion. By recording a series of DWI with different amplitudes of the displacement encoding gradient, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) can be quantitatively mapped. DWI combined with quantitative ADC mapping can provide earlier and more precise evaluation of the ischemic zones. However, the biophysical mechanisms behind the decreased ADC in acute cerebral ischemia are still not fully understood.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska MR Research Center, Building N8, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tieqiang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hindmarsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*