The value of the prominent hypointense vessels sign in acute ischemic stroke / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is a tool that uses the intrinsic nature of local magnetic fields to enhance image contrast in order to improve the visibility of various susceptibility sources.SWI has blood oxygen levels dependent effect and is sensitive to the change of the cerebral oxygen saturation.This imaging method is applied to various diseases with abnormal deoxyhemoglobin concentration,such as ischemic stroke and cerebral arteriovenous malformation.Patients with acute ischemic stroke have elevated levels of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the affected area,so the ischemic area can show abnormal venous imaging on SWI images.SWI could recognize penumbra and guide the management of patients with acute stroke.Besides,SWI also could evaluate the severity of symptoms,predict prognosis and future surviving state.This paper reviews the research progress of the prominent hypointense vessels sign and its application in acute ischemic stroke.