Turbo spin-echo diffusion-weighted MR of ischemic stroke

Karl Olof Lövblad, Peter M. Jakob, Qun Chen, Alison E. Baird, Gottfried Schlaug, Steven Warach, Robert R. Edelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: Our objective was to determine whether a multisection technique, diffusion-weighted half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin-echo (HASTE) imaging, can compensate for the drawbacks common to other diffusion- weighted techniques; specifically, the need for echoplanar technology and the presence of susceptibility artifacts in areas close to the skull base. METHODS: Forty subjects who were referred to the stroke service with signs of acute (less than 24 hour) neurologic dysfunction were included in this prospective study. MR imaging of the brain was performed with diffusion- weighted echo-planar and diffusion-weighted HASTE sequences. The images obtained with both sequences were analyzed for the presence of hyperintensities corresponding to ischemic lesions as well as for the presence of image artifacts and distortions. RESULTS: Diffusion-weighted HASTE images showed areas of hyperintensity corresponding to the infarcts present on diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging studies without distortion or susceptibility artifacts in all the patients who had a stroke. Twelve patients had no acute ischemic lesions; of these, five had other findings, six had normal findings, and in one patient, a hyperintensity seen on diffusion-weighted echo-planar images proved to be an artifact on diffusion- weighted HASTE images. CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion-weighted HASTE is equal to diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging in the detection of early ischemia. Because of the absence of significant image distortions and other artifacts, diffusion-weighted HASTE permits fast multiplanar imaging in artifactprone regions, such as the posterior fossa and the inferior frontal and temporal lobes. Diffusion imaging can be performed on conventional systems with strengths of 1.5 T that do not have echo-planar imaging capabilities.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)201-208
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Neuroradiology
Volume19
Issue number2
StatePublished - Feb 1998

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Clinical Neurology

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