title: Incidental magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging-positive lesions are rare in neurologically asymptomatic community-dwelling adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Incidental magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-positive lesions, considered to represent small acute infarcts, have been detected in patients with cerebral small vessel diseases or cognitive impairment, but the prevalence in the community population is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  DWI sequences collected in 793 participants in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study were reviewed for DWI lesions consistent with small acute infarcts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No DWI-positive lesions were detected (0%, 95% confidence interval, 0-0.5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DWI-positive lesions are rare in an asymptomatic community population. The prevalence of DWI-positive lesions in the community seems to be lower than in patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy, intracerebral hemorrhage, or cognitive impairment.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Batool
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Mukul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Shofiqul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Gilles R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dagenais
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poirier
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lear
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wielgosz
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Koon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Grant
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stotts
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Cheryl R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: McCreary
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frayne
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeJesus
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Sumathy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rangarajan
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.).
authors.forename: Salim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yusuf
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (S.B., R.F., E.E.S.); Department of Medicine, Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (M.O., M.S., S.I., K.T., J.D., S.R., S.Y.); Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Laval University, Quebec, Canada (G.R.D., P.P.); Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); Division of Cardiology, Providence Health Care, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (S.A.L.); The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (A.W., G.S.); Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); Seaman Family MR Research Centre, Alberta Health Services, Alberta, Canada (C.R.M., R.F., E.E.S.); and Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (R.F., E.E.S.). eesmith@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Eric E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; stroke