A Role of MRI in Detection of Cerebral Ischemic Stroke: A Hospital Based Study

Cerebral ischemic stroke remains the leading cause of death and disability in many countries. The objective are: Role of MRI in detection of cerebral ischemic stroke. Age and sex distribution of infarcts in an Indian population. To determine the location and the territory of the involved blood vessels. Incidence of negative cases (stroke mimics). Materials and Methods: All patients referred to the Department of Radio-Diagnosis with clinically suspected cerebral ischemic stroke. The main source of data for the study are patients from Department of Radio diagnosis. United institute of medical sciences. Prayagraj. All MRI scans were performed on a 3 T Siemens Skyra. Sequences used are T2WI axial and coronal, flair axial, gradient echo axial, T1WI axial, DWI axial and ADC maps. MRA (TOF) – circle Willis (neck) and SWI (optional). Results: 150 patients who were clinically suspected of cerebral ischemic stroke were subjected to MRI study of the brain. Among these 150 patients, 77.33% had infarcts, 10.33% had intracerebral hemorrhage, 5.31% patients had cerebrovenous thrombosis, 4% patients had subarachnoid hemorrhage and 3.03% patients had tumours. However 5 patients had normal scans and was excluded from our series. Predominant risk factors were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Men were commonly affected. Youngest age group was 17 years and oldest was 84 years. MCA territory (L>R) was the commonest territory involved in patients with cerebral infarction. Conclusion: The present study is a prospective study. The results obtained from our study are well comparable with other stroke surveys. Differences in pattern of stroke may be related to genetic, environmental or sociocultural factors and to differences in the control of risk factors. MRI is non invasive and there is no radiation hazard. Excellent grey – white matter resolution and multiplanar imaging capability of MRI helps in detection of subtle lesions. Our study observed that diffusion weighted imaging add sensitivity and specificity to the standard MR evaluation.