Localization of clinical syndromes using DWI: Two examples of the "capsalar" warning syndrome

The capsular warning syndrome (CWS) is a subtype of transient ischemic atta ck characterized by its recurrent nature, absence of cortical signs, and hi gh: probability of early capsular stroke. Currently, standard imaging techn iques have identified only internal capsule lesions in this entity. The aut hors present 2 cases with an otherwise typical CWS in whom a brainstem stro ke was detected by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). DWI's ability to diffe rentiate between acute and chronic infarcts may assist in more accurate loc alization of clinical syndromes.