Can diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging help differentiate stroke from stroke-like events in MELAS?

The precise mechanism of neurological symptoms in patients with mitochondri al myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MEL AS) is still controversial. The diffusion weighted MR findings at the acute phase of a neurological event in MELAS are described and the pathophysiolo gy of stroke-like lesion in the light of diffusion changes is discussed. Br ain MRI was performed 2 days after the sudden onset of cortical blindness i n a 25 year old patient with MELAS. Fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FL AIR) images showed multifocal cortical and subcortical hyperintensities loc ated bilaterally in the frontobasal and the temporooccipital lobes. Diffusi on weighted images showed normal to increased apparent diffusion coefficien t values in the acute left temporooccipital lesion and increased values in the older stroke-like lesions. These diffusion weighted findings support the metabolic rather than the isc haemic pathophysiological hypothesis for strokelike episodes occurring in M ELAS. Normal or increased apparent diffusion coefficient values within 48 h ours of a neurological deficit of abrupt onset should raise the possibility of MELAS, especially if conventional MR images show infarct-like lesions.