Does reversal of ischemia on diffusion-weighted imaging reflect higher apparent diffusion coefficient values?

This study investigated whether ischemia on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI ) that reverses has higher apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs). A patien t treated with thrombolytics was evaluated with serial magnetic resonance i maging studies before treatment, at 3 and 14 days and at 4 weeks. A 100.01- cm(3) left frontoparietal stroke on baseline DWI was only 18.11 cm(3) (18%) on 4-week fluid attenuated inversion recovery. The mean ADC was 7.43 x 10( -3) mm(2)/s in the 6 regions that reversed and 7.31 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s in the 6 regions that persisted (P < .036). With thrombolytic treatment, large is chemic lesions on DWI may reverse, and these areas display higher mean ADCs .