'Fogging' resulting in normal MRI 3 weeks after ischaemic stroke.
CT of the brain is often negative in acute stroke. The absence of changes suggestive of infarction on MRI of the brain in the setting of a recent stroke is unusual. An otherwise fit and well 69-year-old Caucasian man presented to the hospital with a 26-h history of acute mild right hemiparesis. CT brain on arrival showed no abnormality. MRI brain was also normal 3 weeks post stroke with abnormality seen only at 11 weeks. Stroke remains a clinical diagnosis. The time of the stroke must be taken into consideration when interpreting MRI brain images. Infarct may be 'invisible' on MRI in the subacute phase of ischaemic stroke.
Department of Neurosciences, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia. philip.choi@gmx.com
Philip
P
Choi
Velandai
V
Srikanth
Thanh
T
Phan
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors