skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Role of NMR in diagnosis and evaluation of stroke: 303 studies of 152 patients

Conference · · J. Nucl. Med.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6757242

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) proton imaging of 158 patients with clinical stroke was done over 18 months (0.15T Technicare resistive prototype imager). Spin echo (TR250-2150, TE30-240 m sec.) and inversion spin echo (TR1600, TI450, TE30 m sec.) sequences were used. Early sensitivity of NMR was superior to CT and 24 and 48 hours but not at 48-72 hours from clinical onset. Cerebral hemorrhage was studied by NMR in 18 patients (7 within 72 hours); all could be diagnosed as hemorrhage within 72 hours though findings were more subtle than CT. NMR findings became striking by 5 days and persisted longer than CT on late follow-up. Increased NMR signal on spin echo imaging in acute stroke correlated with tissue oedema and necrosis on pathologic study, while high signal in sub-acute stroke corresponded to gliosis, microcystic change, and macrophage infiltration. Zones of altered TI-weighted signal are presently under comparison by digitizer to pathologic zones in a patient with cerebral hemorrhage. NMR convincingly demonstrates superior early sensitivity in diagnoses of stroke but uncertainty remains concerning reliable detection of early hemorrhage.

Research Organization:
St. Joseph's Research Institute, London, Ontario
OSTI ID:
6757242
Report Number(s):
CONF-850611-
Journal Information:
J. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Vol. 26:5; Conference: 32. annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, Houston, TX, USA, 2 Jun 1985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English