Abstract
The main application of perfusional techniques based on MR concerns the evaluation of stroke. Our experience, based on 25 cases (15 acute) confirms the literature data, allowing to affirm its simplicity (2 minutes of acquisition, obtainable also with low field equipments). In perspective it is possible to foresee an increasing employment that, in case of stroke, could: 1. facilitate the differential diagnosis; 2. allow the early recognition of the ischemic area (in the first minutes after the occlusion); 3. facilitate the prognostic judgment; 4. help in differentiating the ischemic core from penumbra; 5. replace SPET in the evaluation of the so-called therapeutic window; 6. allow the correct selection of pts susceptible of thrombolitic therapy, excluding those with spontaneous recanalization; 7. appraise the effectiveness of thrombolitic therapy in follow-up evaluations.
To our opinion, however, much more interesting seems the possible application in prevention, and, more particularily, in: 1. evaluation of critical zones in subjects with stenosis of big vessels; 2. study of the efficiency of collateral supply; 3. evaluation of the vasodilatory reserve (i.e.: pharmacological tests); 4. presurgical planning (perfusional MR together with MRA will replace cateter angiography?)
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