Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images
08:39

Assessing Cortical Cerebral Microinfarcts on High Resolution MR Images

Published on: November 20, 2015

Multiple acute cerebral infarcts on diffusion-weighted imaging and risk of recurrent stroke

H M Wen1, W W M Lam, T Rainer

  • 1Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

Neurology
|October 13, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Multiple acute cerebral infarcts (MACIs), detected via diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), predict future vascular events and death. This finding highlights MACIs as a critical indicator for unstable thromboembolism in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Multiple acute cerebral infarcts (MACIs) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) suggest an unstable source of thromboembolism.
  • Identifying early indicators of vascular risk is crucial for acute ischemic stroke patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prognostic significance of MACIs detected by DWI in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Main Methods:

  • 119 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients were studied within 24 hours of symptom onset.
  • Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was used to detect multiple acute cerebral infarcts (MACIs).
  • Patients were followed for recurrent strokes, acute coronary syndromes, and mortality.

Main Results:

  • MACIs were identified in 20 patients (16.8%).
  • During follow-up, 15 recurrent strokes, 3 acute coronary syndromes, and 5 deaths occurred.
  • MACI was a significant independent predictor for vascular events and death (OR = 4.34; p = 0.001) and stroke recurrence (OR = 5.93; p = 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • The presence of MACIs on DWI is a significant independent predictor of adverse vascular outcomes and mortality in acute ischemic stroke.
  • DWI-detected MACIs can help identify high-risk patients requiring closer monitoring and potentially more aggressive secondary prevention strategies.

More Related Videos

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia09:59

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia

Published on: September 16, 2017

Brain Infarct Segmentation and Registration on MRI or CT for Lesion-symptom Mapping10:25

Brain Infarct Segmentation and Registration on MRI or CT for Lesion-symptom Mapping

Published on: September 25, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction01:15

Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction

Ischemic stroke is an acute cerebrovascular condition in which blood flow to a brain region is suddenly interrupted, leading to tissue infarction. Neurons depend on continuous oxygen and glucose supply, so even brief reductions in perfusion cause energy failure, ionic imbalance, and irreversible injury. Ischemic strokes are classified into thrombotic and embolic types based on their underlying mechanisms.Thrombotic MechanismsThrombotic stroke develops when a clot forms within a cerebral artery.
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:15

Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction01:17

Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction

A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...
Transient Ischemic Attack l: Introduction01:26

Transient Ischemic Attack l: Introduction

A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by a temporary, focal reduction in cerebral blood flow. Although symptoms resemble those of an ischemic stroke, the interruption in perfusion is short-lived and does not cause permanent infarction. TIAs are clinically important because they often serve as early warning events for future stroke.Mechanisms of Transient Cerebral IschemiaTransient cerebral ischemia may arise through several mechanisms. One...