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


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Signal changes in DW-MRI precede T2 hyperintensity after infarction in the posterior circulation territory after hemispheric infarction.
Weise
J
J
Department of Neurology, University of Göttingen Medical School, Göttingen, Germany. jweise@gwdg.de
Bähr
M
M
Strayle-Batra
M
M
Küker
W
W
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors