Preliminary clinical application of susceptibility weighted imaging in hemorrhagic cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical diagnostic value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in hemorrhagic cerebral infarction. Methods Twenty patients with subacute hemorrhagic cerebral infarction were examined by 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conventional MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and SWI were performed simultaneously. The images were analysed, and the extents of infarction and hemorrhage were measured. The positive rate of hemorrhage on SWI was compared with other sequences. The largest areas of hemorrhage between SWI and T2WI were performed with correlation analysis. In addition, the venous within the infarction and the micro⁃hemorrhage beyond the infarction were also analysed. Results SWI demonstrated all the hemorrhagic lesions (20 cases, 100% ). SWI showed 43 hemorrhagic lesions in 20 patients, while 25, 15, 12 hemorrhagic lesions were detected on T1WI, DWI and T2WI, respectively. The largest extent of infarction was (18.08 ± 12.47) cm2 and the extent of hemorrhage was (5.02 ± 6.27) cm2 in 20 patients. There was strong correlation (r = 0.562, P = 0.010) between the extents of infarction and hemorrhage. SWI also showed hemorrhagic lesions outside infarction in 13 patients. Less or thinner venous branches were found in 12 patients, while more, larger or tortuous venous branches were found in 6 patients. Conclusion SWI is much better for hemorrhagic cerebral infarction than conventional MRI sequences, and can discover small hemorrhage focus out of cerebral infarction. SWI should be used as a routine examination for diagnosis of hemorrhagic cerebral infarction.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2011.03.011