[Neuroimaging of cerebral ischemia]

Diagnostic confirmation of cerebral vascular accidents is of particular interest to neurologists because of the therapeutic and prognostic implications which the added social costs, in both the follow up of these patients, as well as the complications which may develop represent. The different diagnostic imaging techniques are presented with emphasis on magnetic resonance, which, given its multisequential capacity, provides not only simple morphologic data, but also information on the complex chemical structure of the cerebral parenchyma by spectroscopy, with the added value of determining excellent delimitations of the cerebral vascular tree. The new diffusion-perfusion techniques amplify the diagnostic sensitivity during the first hours of clinical admission which are crucial for therapeutic decisions to be effective.