J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Aug;31(2):205-210.

Contrast Enhancement Pattern in MR Imaging of Acute Cerebral Infarction

• Song DH
• Kim JD
• Cho MY
• Lee CG

Abstract

PURPOSE
To present the enhancement pattern of acute cerebral or cerebellar cortical infarctions aged 1-3 days on MR.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Contrast-enhanced MR images of 26 patients with acute cerebral or cerebellar ischemic events were retrospectively reviewed. MR was performed within 3 days after ictus.
RESULTS
Contrast enhancement in the area of infarction was observed in 61.5% (16/26) on MR. Of these 50% (13/26) showed non-parenchymal enhancement (NPE) representing either vascular or leptomeningeal enhancement, 7.7% (2/26) showed parenchymal enhancement (PE), and 2.8% (1/26) showed both NPE and PE. The earliest enhancement was seen in images obtained 12 hours after the onset of symptoms and appeared as NPE. One patient showed NPE without apparent high signal intensity at the corresponding area on T2-weighted images. In 38. 5% (10/26), there was no enhancement.
CONCLUSION
Contrast-enhanced MR imaging may be needed in acute ischemic infarction, because NPE may be seen as the earliest MR finding of acute cortical infarction aged 1-3 days.

MeSH Terms

Cerebral Infarction*
Humans
Infarction
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Retrospective Studies