Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: September 16, 2017
Streamlined Hyperacute Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol Identifies Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator-Eligible
Manu S Goyal1, Brian G Hoff1, Jennifer Williams1
1From the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology (M.S.G., K.D.V., T.B., C.P.D., J.-M.L.), Department of Neurology (R.W., C.P.D., J.-M.L., A.L.F.), Division of Emergency Medicine (L.H., P.P.), and Department of Neurological Surgery (C.P.D.), Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO; Department of Operational Excellence (B.G.H.) and Department of Emergency Services (J.W.), Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, MO; Department of Neuroradiology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada (N.K.); and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University, St Louis, MO (J.-M.L.).
Background And Purpose:
Stroke mimics (SM) challenge the initial assessment of patients presenting with possible acute ischemic stroke (AIS). When SM is considered likely, intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) may be withheld, risking an opportunity to treat AIS. Although computed tomography is routinely used for tPA decision making, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may diagnose AIS when SM is favored but not certain. We hypothesized that a hyperacute MRI (hMRI) protocol would identify tPA-eligible AIS patients among those initially favored to have SM.
Methods:
A streamlined hMRI protocol was designed based on barriers to rapid patient transport, MRI acquisition, and post-MRI tPA delivery. Neurologists were trained to order hMRI when SM was favored and tPA was being withheld. The use of hMRI for tPA decision making, door-to-needle times, and outcomes were compared before hMRI implementation (pre-hMRI: August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2013) and after (post-hMRI, August 1, 2013, to January 15, 2015).
Results:
Post hMRI, 57 patients with suspected SM underwent hMRI (median MRI-order-to-start time, 29 minutes), of whom, 11 (19%) were diagnosed with AIS and 7 (12%) received tPA. Pre-hMRI, no tPA-treated patients were screened with hMRI. Post hMRI, 7 of 106 (6.6%) tPA-treated patients underwent hMRI to aid in decision making because of suspected SM (0% versus 6.6%; P=0.001). To ensure standard care was maintained after implementing the hMRI protocol, pre- versus post-hMRI tPA-treated cohorts were compared and did not differ: door-to-needle time (39 versus 37 minutes; P=0.63), symptomatic hemorrhage rate (4.5% versus 1.9%; P=0.32), and favorable discharge location (85% versus 89%; P=0.37).
Conclusions:
A streamlined hMRI protocol permitted tPA administration to a small, but significant, subset of AIS patients initially considered to have SM.
