Diagnostic use of isotropic diffusion-weighted MRI in patients with ischaemic stroke: detection of the lesion responsible for the clinical deficit

We examined the diagnostic use of isotropic diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI in 140 consecutive patients suspected of or diagnosed as having an ischaemic s troke. Isotropic DW imaging could demonstrate the lesion responsible for th e clinical deficit in patients with multiple cerebral infarts at an early s tage, even small lesions without a perifocal oedema or mass effect. Accurat e diagnosis by DW images may, however, be difficult about 2 weeks after the onset of stroke.