Distinct location of subcortical silent infarcts compared with symptomatic lacunar infarcts.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the location of subcortical silent infarcts differs from that of symptomatic lacunar infarcts.


METHODS
32 silent infarcts and 59 acute lacunar infarcts located in the corona radiata were examined. The relative anterior-to-posterior locations of the silent infarcts in the corona radiata were compared with those of the symptomatic lacunes on T2-weighed MR imaging.


RESULTS
The locations of the silent infarcts differed from those of the symptomatic lacunar lesions in the corona radiata (p<0.001). Silent infarcts were distributed principally in the anterior half of the corona radiata, whereas most of the symptomatic lacunes were located in the posterior half of the corona radiata.


CONCLUSIONS
The asymptomatic nature of subcortical silent infarcts may be attributable to their location in ineloquent portions of brain structures.
Song
Young-Mok
YM
Department of Neurology, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Chungnam 330-715, South Korea. ymsong@medimail.co.kr
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D018450:Disease Progression; D004401:Dysarthria / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020772:Internal Capsule / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology*; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index