Imaging markers in acute phase of stroke: Implications for prognosis

Currently, various methods for inspecting ischemic stroke are available, especially the imaging techniques, which play an important role in assisting diagnosis and prognostication of ischemic stroke. In the acute phase of ischemic stroke, however, there still lack of well-established imaging markers that could reliably predict patients’ functional outcome. We thus reviewed literatures focusing on relevant imaging markers of ischemic tissue, intra-arterial thrombus, arterial collateral circulation, draining veins and functional connectivity, which may be valuable to evaluate the initial severity of stroke in the acute phase of ischemic stroke and predict neurological outcome in the long term.