title: [Diagnostic validity of sensorimotor stroke].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the clinical practice, "sensorimotor stroke" (SMS) do not always correspond to the diagnosis of small-vessel occlusion (SVO, lacune). We aimed to evaluate diagnostic validity of acute SMS with the use of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 57 consecutive patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke presenting with SMS. Acute infarcts were identified on DWI within 7 days of stroke onset in all patients. Vascular risk factors, emboligenic heart diseases, occlusive cerebral artery disease, infarct size and location, and stroke subtype were evaluated. Stroke subtype was classified according to the TOAST classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SMS occurred in 57 cases; 40 men and 17 women (mean +/- age, 68.5 +/- 12.1 years). Frequency of hypertension was the highest (n = 30, 53%) in the vascular risk factors. Emboligenic heart diseases and cerebral artery disease were identified in 14 (25%) and 11 patients (19%), respectively. DWI revealed subcortical infarcts in 47 patients (84%) and infarct diameter <15 mm in 25 (44%). Only 18 patients (32%) met the diagnostic criteria for SVO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diagnostic validity of acute SMS was rather low. The clinical picture of SMS is far from being used as synonymous of a SVO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kumamoto City Hospital.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Kiminobu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yonemura
authors.forename: Youhei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Misumi
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Teruyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis*