Application Of MR Diffusion-Weighte Imaging In Acute Multiple Brain Infarction

Objective To study if diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is superior to conventional MRI in detection of acute multiple brain infarction, and to determine the frequency and the topographical and etiologic patterns of AMBI using this technique. Methods 268 consecutive cerebral infarction patients were underwent MRI and DWI technique to identicate the rate of AMBI in cerebral infarction . Result 72 cases of AMBI were found in 268 cerebral infarction patients with DWI technique, while using MRI there is 33 cases (p<0.01). In 72 cases of AMBI, we found 47 cases were in anterior circulation, including one half of hemisphere in 29 (group A), and in bilateral hemisphere in 18 (group B), 16 patients had AMBI in posterior circulation (group C) , and 9 in both anterior and posterior circulation.The most frequency cause of infarction was large-artery atherosclerosis in group A( 22/29), B( 11/18), C( 10/16)(p< 0.05)and cardioembol ism in group D (5/9) (p<0. 01) .Elevated fibrinogen was significantly associated with group B (p<0.05) .Conclusion DWI is superior to conventional MRI in identification of AMBI. Differenttopographical patterns of AMBI are associated with different vascular pathologies and infarction mechanisms.