Prediction of Infarction in Acute Cerebral Ischemic Stroke by Using Perfusion MR Imaging and 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We investigated the predictive values of relative CBV measured with perfusion MR imaging, and relative CBF measured with SPECT for tissue outcome in acute ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen patients, who had acute unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion, underwent perfusion MR imaging, and 99mTc-HMPAO SPECT within 6 hours after the onset of symptoms. Lesion-to-contralateral ratios of perfusion parameters were measured, and best cut-off values of both parameter ratios with their accuracy to discriminate between regions with and without evolving infarction were calculated. RESULTS: Mean relative CBV ratios in regions with evolving infarction and without evolving infarction were 0.58+/-0.27 and 0.99+/-0.17 (p 0.05 between two parameters). CONCLUSION: Measurement of relative CBV and relative CBF may be useful in predicting tissue outcome in acute ischemic stroke.