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Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MRI of lacunar infarcts

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Abstract

We studied 35 patients with lacunar infarcts, using diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (DW-EPI) at 1.5 T. The relative apparent diffusion coefficient ratio (ADCR) of each lesion was calculated and lesion conspicuity on DW-EPI was compared to that on images aquired with fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences. Acute small infarcts (within 3 days) were identified with DW-EPI as an area of decreased ADCR (range 0.33–0.87; mean 0.67) and high signal, subacute small infarcts (4–30 days) as a high-signal or isointense areas of decreased or nearly normal ADCR (0.54–0.98; 0.73), and chronic small infarcts (> 30 days) as low- or high-signal areas of nearly normal or increased ADCR (0.97–1.92; 1.32). In three patients, small infarcts of the brain stem in the hyperacute phase (within 6 h) were seen only with DW-EPI. In five patients, fresh small infarcts adjacent to multiple old infarcts could be distinguished only with DW-EPI.

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Received: 22 September 1997 Accepted: 25 November 1997

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Noguchi, K., Nagayoshi, T., Watanabe, N. et al. Diffusion-weighted echo-planar MRI of lacunar infarcts. Neuroradiology 40, 448–451 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002340050621

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002340050621

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