Non-invasive Brain Temperature Measurement in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Therapeutic hypothermia is a promising adjunct to mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke.
• A major barrier to hypothermia implementation is the absence of real-time, non-invasive brain temperature monitoring.
• Accurate brain temperature monitoring is vital for understanding temperature fluctuations and optimizing cooling during stroke treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review brain temperature changes during stroke.
• To appraise non-invasive brain temperature measurement modalities developed over the past 20 years.
• To evaluate the feasibility of these modalities in acute stroke settings and their integration into clinical workflows.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on brain temperature monitoring in stroke.
• Analysis of non-invasive modalities: magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI), radiometric thermometry, and microwave radiometry.
• Evaluation of accuracy from human and animal studies and clinical feasibility.

Main Results:

• Several non-invasive modalities show potential for brain temperature monitoring.
• Evidence for accuracy exists from both human and animal studies.
• Feasibility in acute stroke settings and integration into workflows require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Non-invasive brain temperature monitoring is essential for optimizing therapeutic hypothermia in mechanical thrombectomy for stroke.
• Existing modalities like MRSI, radiometric thermometry, and microwave radiometry warrant further investigation for clinical application.
• Successful integration could significantly improve outcomes for large vessel occlusion stroke patients.