Ces radiol. 2008, 62(4):370-380

Differential diagnostics of ischemic stroke with the help of magnetic resonance imaging and other imaging techniquesReview article

Zdeněk Seidl1,2, Manuela Vaněčková1
1 Radiodiagnostická klinika 1. LF UK a VFN, Praha
2 Vysoká škola zdravotnická, Praha

Differential diagnostic of ischemic stroke with the help of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
We review all possible causes which can bring diagnostic problems from during MRI evaluation. Some paraclinical tests, important from point of view specificity of MR imaging, are described too.
As the most frequent pathological processes which can mimic ischemic stroke are considered following diagnoses low grade astrocytoma, primary CNS lymphoma, herpes encephalitis, radiation injury, histiocytosis X, mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), gliomatosis cerebri, progresive multifocal leukoencefalopathy (PML), limbic encephalitis.
Precise specification of diagnosis is essential for clinical treatment. It is important to know the whole spectrum of possible differential diagnostics of ischemic stroke from point of view of MR imaging. Nevertheless, the diagnostics can be ambiguous and brain biopsy could become necessary in dubious cases.

Keywords: differential diagnostics, ischemic stroke, magnetic resonance imaging, imaging
Grants and funding:

Práce vznikla za podpory výzkumného záměru MZOVFN2005, MSMOO21620849.

Accepted: July 15, 2008; Published: December 1, 2008  Show citation

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Seidl Z, Vaněčková M. Differential diagnostics of ischemic stroke with the help of magnetic resonance imaging and other imaging techniques. Ces radiol. 2008;62(4):370-380.
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