Digital map of posterior cerebral artery infarcts associated with posterior cerebral artery trunk and branch occlusion.
OBJECTIVE
Knowledge of the extent and distribution of infarcts of the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) may give insight into the limits of the arterial territory and infarct mechanism. We describe the creation of a digital atlas of PCA infarcts associated with PCA branch and trunk occlusion by magnetic resonance imaging techniques.


METHODS
Infarcts were manually segmented on T(2)-weighted magnetic resonance images obtained >24 hours after stroke onset. The images were linearly registered into a common stereotaxic coordinate space. The segmented images were averaged to yield the probability of involvement by infarction at each voxel. Comparisons were made with existing maps of the PCA territory.


RESULTS
Thirty patients with a median age of 61 years (range, 22 to 86 years) were studied. In the digital atlas of the PCA, the highest frequency of infarction was within the medial temporal lobe and lingual gyrus (probability=0.60 to 0.70). The mean and maximal PCA infarct volumes were 55.1 and 128.9 cm(3), respectively. Comparison with published maps showed greater agreement in the anterior and medial boundaries of the PCA territory compared with its posterior and lateral boundaries.


CONCLUSIONS
We have created a probabilistic digital atlas of the PCA based on subacute magnetic resonance scans. This approach is useful for establishing the spatial distribution of strokes in a given cerebral arterial territory and determining the regions within the arterial territory that are at greatest risk of infarction.
Phan
Thanh G
TG
Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
Fong
Ashley C
AC
Donnan
Geoffrey
G
Reutens
David C
DC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020762:Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*