The symptoms and signs of stroke vary according to the location of the lesions. Middle cerebral artery territory infarction produces symptoms such as contralateral hemiparesis (worse in the arm than in the leg), hemihypesthesia, dysarthria, aphasia (left lesion), and hemineglect (right lesion). Anterior cerebral artery infarction produces hemiparesis worse in the leg than in the arm, abulia, apathy, and urinary incontinence. Posterior cerebral artery infarction produces hemianopia. An occlusion of small penetrating branches such as lenticulostriate arteries or thalamogeniculate arteries is responsible for the so-called lacunar syndrome : pure hemiparesis, ataxic-hemparesis, dysarthria clumsy hand syndrome, or pure sensory stroke. The symptoms and signs of the brain stem infarction also vary greatly according to the area of involvement. Generally, they are characterized by virtigo, dizziness, diplopia, and ataxia. Major occlusion of the basilar artery may produce grave conditions characterized by altered consciousness, quadriparesis, and horizontal gaze paresis. Intracerebral hemorrhage occur in the basal ganglia, thalamus, lobar area, pons, and the cerebellum, in order of decreasing frequency. The symptoms and signs are dependent on the location and the amount of hemorrhages. The symptoms of subarachnoid hemorrhages are characterized by sudden headache and neck stiffness.
Apathy ; Aphasia ; Arm ; Arteries ; Ataxia ; Basal Ganglia ; Basilar Artery ; Brain Stem Infarctions ; Cerebellum ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Consciousness ; Diplopia ; Dizziness ; Dysarthria ; Hand ; Headache ; Hemianopsia ; Hemorrhage ; Infarction ; Infarction, Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Leg ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Neck ; Paresis ; Pons ; Quadriplegia ; Stroke* ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thalamus ; Urinary Incontinence

BACKGROUND: To investigate the optimal values of transcranial doppler (TCD) index in the evaluation of leptomeningeal collateral circulation (CC) in patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis. METHODS: Forty-one patients, with angiographically confirmed single stenosis or occlusion of the M1 segment of the MCA, were studied with TCD and brain MRI. Patients were divided into two groups according to the existence of CC though ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery on transfemoral cerebral angiography (TFCA). Mean flow velocities (mFV) of anterior and middle cerebral arteries (ACA, MCA) were analyzed. We then investigated the optimal values of TCD flow index: 1) ipsilateral mFV ACA/MCA (AMVR), 2) ACA velocity ratio (ACAVR), 3) mFVACA. We then correlated TCD flow index with TFCA results. RESULTS: TFCA revealed single moderate to severe M1 stenosis (n=35) and occlusion (n=6). Presence of CC was found in 11 (27%), absence of CC in 30 (73%). The mean of AMVR, ACAVR and mFVACA differed between the two groups: 1.76 +/- 0.69, 1.43 +/- 36, 86.27 +/- 31.73 cm/s in the presence of CC; 0.48 +/- 0.24, 1.21 +/- 0.39, 65.93 +/- 23.24 in the absence of CC. The optimal cutoff values for detection of CC were found at AMVR>or=0.9, ACAVR>or=1.30 and mFVACA>or=80 cm/s. The combination of individual TCD indexes had improved the specificity and positive predicted value in the detection of CC. CONCLUSIONS: TCD enables detecting the existence of CC in patients with MCA stenoocclusion. These optimal values may provide a noninvasive method for evaluate the pathomechanism of stroke and prospect the prognosis of these patients.
Anterior Cerebral Artery* ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Collateral Circulation* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Prognosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Magnetic resonance angiography is helpful noninvasive evaluation of intracranial arteries and, in some patients, may spare invasive angiography which has potentially serious complication. However, it's diagnostic value in vertebrobasilar artery disease has not yet been evaluated. METHODS: MRA and axial brain MRI of 47 patients with acute cerebellar and/or brainstem ischemia, 26 patients with middle cerebral artery territory infarction, and 40 age matched normal controls were reviewed. Patients wit potential risks of cardiac embolization were excluded. MR Angiography was performed by three dimensional time-of-flight gradient-echo technique. Th diagnosis of vessel stenosis was made only when the lumen diameter was reduced by less than 50% on 3-D images to avoid overestimation of MR angiography. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients had cerebellar and/or brainstem infarction: with signal hyperintensities in T2-weighted MRI sequences. Pons was the most common infarcted site(28/47), followed by medulla (17/47), and cerebellum (11/47). The sensitivity of MR angiography in detecting vascular occlusive lesions of vertebrobasilar artery was 57.5% (28/47) in cerebellar and/or brainstem infarction patients, while 7 of 26 (26.9%) in middle cerebral artery territory infarction, and 2 of 40 (5%) in age matched control subjects showed occlusion or stenosis. MR angiography detected vascular occlusive lesions more frequently on vertebral arteries (25/47, 53.2%) than basilar artery (13/47, 27.7%). And occlusive or stenotic lesions of vertebral arteries were ipsilateral to ischemic lesion sites in 12 of 17 patients(70.6%), There was no difference between deep small lacunar stroke and perforator occlusion in pons. Absence of flow void on axial T2W imaging was seen only in 9 of 47 patients (19.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results in this present study suggest that MR angiography is moderately sensitive diagnostic tool in vertebrobasilar occlusive disease although it has limitation in detection of smaller branches occlusion. Except vertebral arteries occlusion, absence of flow void in axial MR imaging is not a reliable findings.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Basilar Artery ; Brain ; Brain Stem Infarctions* ; Brain Stem* ; Cerebellum ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Pons ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Vertebral Artery

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) with vascular abnormalities, including aneurysms, have been reported frequently. However, the coexistence of AVM and unilateral moyamoya disease is rare. We report herein an AVM patient who presented with acute ischemic stroke with unilateral moyamoya disease and occlusion of the feeding artery. CASE REPORT: A-41-year old man was admitted with sudden dysarthria and facial palsy. Brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an acute infarction adjacent to a large AVM in the right frontal lobe. Cerebral angiography revealed occlusions of the proximal right middle cerebral and proximal anterior cerebral arteries, which were the main feeders of the AVM. Innumerable telangiectatic moyamoya-type vessels between branches of the anterior cerebral artery and dilated lenticulostriate arteries on the occluded middle cerebral artery were detected. However, a nidus of the AVM was still opacified through the distal right callosomarginal artery, which was supplied by the remaining anterior cerebral artery and leptomeningeal collaterals from the posterior cerebral artery. CONCLUSIONS: While AVM accompanied by unilateral moyamoya disease is rare, our case suggests an association between these two dissimilar vascular diseases.
Aneurysm ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Arteries ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Dysarthria ; Facial Paralysis ; Frontal Lobe ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Moyamoya Disease ; Stroke ; Vascular Diseases

With the advent of faster scan time and new computer program, a scanning technique called “dynamic computedtomography” has become possible. Dynamic CT consists of performing multiple rappid sequence scans after injectionof contrast material. The authors have evaluated the clinical usefulness of CT and dynamic CT of 93 patients withbrain infarction and/or ischemia during the period of 17 months from April 1983 to Aug. 1983 to Aug. 1984 inDepartment of Radiology, Chonbuk National University Hospital. The results were as follows; 1. The agedistribution ranged from 18 years to 78 years. Among them the most common age group was between 50 years and 59years(40.9%). 2. The sites of brain infarction were cerebral lobes(63 cases,68), basal ganglia(15 cases, 16.1%)and mlultiple sites(6 cases, 6.4%). The common affected site was middle cerebral artery territories. 3. Thecontrast enhancement of acute infarction was noted in 14 cases(17.5%) which occured commonly between 3 days and 2weeks from ictus. 4. The patterns of time-density curve in brain infarction and/or ischemia were as follow: a .Depression of slow wash-in phase was 20 cases(59%). b. Lower peak concentration was 17 cases(50%), c. Lower anddelayed peak concentration was 7 cases(21%), d. No definite peak concentration was 6 cases(18%). First threepatterns of time-density curve were thought as relatively characteristic curve of brain infarction and/orischemia. 5. Two cases that showed negative findings on precontrast CT scan appeared to be positive findings ashypodensity on postcontrast CT scan and were confirmed as brain infarction by dynamic CT. 6. The diagnostic entityof dynamic CT scan were as follows: a. large artery thrombotic infarction were 23 cases (58%). b. lacunarinfarction were 6 cases (15%). c. ischemia were 5 cases (13%), d. normal were 5 cases(13%), In six cases oflacunar infarction which was doubtful hypodensity on pre-and postcontrast CT scan had a marked difference in CT#(HU) on absolute scale graph of dynamic CT, so diagnosis of lacunar infarction could be made easily. 7. Theclinical values of dynamic CT consist in not only diagnosis of lacunar infarction but also evaluation ofeffectiveness of medical or surgical treatment.
Arteries ; Brain Infarction ; Brain ; Depression ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Jeollabuk-do ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Stroke, Lacunar ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to review the cases of patients who had undergone diffusionweighted magnetic resonance imaging(DWI) in the emergency department(ED), and to investigate its clinical usefulness and current indications. METHODS: We analyzed the cases of 152 consecutive patients who underwent DWI in the ED from Jan to Mar 2001. DWI was obtained with the use of a multislice, single-shot, spin-echo plana imaging technique(GE Signa(R)). Imaging time was less than one minute. The medical records, the DWI films and the computed tomography results were reviewed. We investigated the chief complaint, initial findings of physical examination, final diagnosis, decision-making department, interval from admission to imaging, and DWI findings. RESULTS: DWI showed positive findings of high signal intensity in 84 patients(55.3%). Among the 68 patients who yielded a negative result, false negative occurred with 12 patients(17.6%): 10 lacunar infarctions, a pons infarction, and a brainstem infarction. Eleven patients were determined as having a cerebral hemorrhage, all of whom showed the abnormal finding of a mixed signal in DWI. The sensitivity and the specificity of DWI to rule out stroke were 85.5% and 98%, respectively. Current indications for DWI in our ED are age older than 60, alert mental status, and one of the symptoms or signs among lateralyzing sign, language disturbance, and dizziness/vertigo. CONCLUSION: DWI was highly specific to rule out stroke, so emergency care professionals should be familiar with this new technology. Further prospective study is required to determine the proper indications and clinical usefulness of DWI in the ED.
Brain Stem Infarctions ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Diagnosis ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medical Services ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Medical Records ; Physical Examination ; Pons ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between plasma fibrinogen level and cerebral infarction (CI) as well as the difference of fibrinogen among subtypes of CI.

METHODSA case-controlled study was conducted with 131 cases of CI and 148 controls. Plasma fibrinogen levels were detected by the Clauss method.

RESULTSHigh fibrinogen level (3.09 +/- 0.94 g/L) was correlated with CI (OR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.51-4.04, P < 0.005) at the onset stage of the disease. Persistent high fibrinogen level (3.14 +/- 0.81 g/L) at 6-month after stroke onset was detected and correlated with CI (OR = 4.34, 95% CI: 1.80-10.51, P = 0.001). Higher fibrinogen level was correlated with total anterior circulation infarction (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarction (PACI), and posterior circulation infarction (POCI) (OR = 4.008, P < 0.001). Higher fibrinogen level was correlated with extracranial atherosclerosis (OR = 3.220, P < 0.05, but not with intracranial atherosclerosis.

CONCLUSIONFibrinogen level may be a risk factor of CI and probably correlates with subtypes of CI and distributions of atherosclerosis.

Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; Brain Infarction ; blood ; classification ; Case-Control Studies ; Cerebral Infarction ; blood ; classification ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infarction, Anterior Cerebral Artery ; blood ; Infarction, Posterior Cerebral Artery ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

PURPOSE: To evaluate the findings of first-pass perfusion CT in hyperacute stroke patients and to determine the relationship between a perfusion map and final infarct outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients admitted with ischemic stroke within six hours of the onset of symptoms underwent conventional cerebral CT immediately followed by first-pass perfusion CT. Nineteen underwent follow-up CT or MRI, and three types of dynamic perfusion map - cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT) - were evaluated by two radiologists. In these 19 patients, initial perfusion maps correlated with final infarct size, determined during follow-up studies. RESULTS: In all 35 patients, major large vessel perfusion abnormalities [middle cerebral artery - MCA MCA and anterior cerebral artery - ACA (n=2); posterior cerebral artery - PCA (n=8)] were detected. On first-pass perfusion maps depicting CBF and MTT, all lesions were detected, and CBF and delayed MTT values were recorded. CBV maps showed variable findings. In all 19 patients who were followed up, the final infarct size of perfusion abnormalities was less than that depicted on CBF and MTT maps, and similar to or much greater than that seen on CBV maps. CONCLUSION: First-pass perfusion CT scanning is a practical, rapid and advanced imaging technique. In hyperacute stroke patients, it provides important and reliable hemodynamic information as to which brain tissue is salvageable by thrombolytic therapy, and predicts outcome of such treatment.
Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Blood Volume ; Brain ; Cerebral Arteries ; Cerebral Infarction ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Perfusion* ; Posterior Cerebral Artery ; Stroke* ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Bleeding complications of central nervous system following snake bite are well known. However, nonhemorrhagic manifestations such as ischemic stroke are extremely rare. As far as we know, only four such instances involving middle cerebral artery territory have ever been reported in the literature up to now. A 53-year-old farmer noted right side motor weakness and severe dysarthria 3 hours after a snake bite on right middle finger. Magnetic resonance T2WI showed high signal intensity on left pontine region extending to basal surface and bilateral tegmentum of the pons. He had neither atherogenic risk factors nor cardiogenic embolic sources. Laboratory findings were within normal limits except for mild consumptive coagulopathy. Cerebral angiogram revealed abrupt occlusion of proximal basilar artery. We report a case of brainstem infarction caused by a Korean viper (Agkistrodon blomhoffii brevicaudus) bite and discuss possible mechanisms for cerebral infarction.
Basilar Artery ; Brain Stem Infarctions* ; Brain Stem* ; Central Nervous System ; Cerebral Infarction ; Dysarthria ; Fingers ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Pons ; Risk Factors ; Snake Bites* ; Snakes* ; Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is no clear description about the patterns of each mechanism of striatocapsular infarctions. The aims of our study were to elucidate differences in the distributions of lesions of acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarctions involving the striatocapsular region and to compare those following embolic striatocapsular infarctions with those originating from MCA disease. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with acute infarcts located in the lenticulostriate artery territory that were not lacunar infarcts. Brain coronal diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was obtained and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) was carried out to evaluate the distribution of infarct lesions and MCA stenosis in all patients. The types of infarct distribution were divided into three categories: (1) dominant in the distal territory (DD), (2) distributed equally between the distal and proximal territories (DE), and (3) dominant in the proximal territory. We performed tests for embolic sources (transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, Holter monitoring, and contrast-enhanced MRA including the aortic arch) in most patients. Stroke mechanisms were classified into stroke from proximal embolism, MCA disease, and stroke of undetermined etiology. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients (28 men and 19 women; mean age, 62 years) were recruited. A proximal embolic source was significantly more prevalent in patients with a DE lesion than in those with a DD lesion. The most common proximal embolic source was of cardiac origin. In contrast, symptomatic MCA stenoses were more common in patients with a DD lesion than in those with a DE lesion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the dominant area of striatocapsular infarction on coronal DWI is an important clue for stroke etiology. Coronal DWI could therefore be helpful to determining the mechanisms in patients with striatocapsular infarctions that are currently described as having an "undetermined etiology" according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification.
Arteries ; Brain ; Classification ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Echocardiography ; Echocardiography, Transesophageal ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Embolism ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Magnetic Resonance Angiography ; Male ; Middle Cerebral Artery* ; Prospective Studies ; Stroke ; Stroke, Lacunar