DIFFUSION AND PERFUSION MRI, MEASUREMENTS OF ACUTE STROKE EVENTS AND OUTCOME - PRESENT PRACTICE AND FUTURE HOPE

The morphological. metabolic and functional changes of brain ischaemia call be studied using various MRI methods. These are readily availabl e should the early visualisation of affected territories be needed. Mo rphological changes include the depiction of oedema on T-1- and T-2-we ighted images, and metabolic changes are reflected on magnetic resonan ce spectroscopy. Functional changes reflect haemodynamic failure seen on diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging, Modelling of behaviour o f T-2 and diffusion changes could pr-edict the histological outcome of affected tissue regarding cell recovery or necrosis. In addition, the combination of diffusion and perfusion MRI offers a potential prognos tic value.