We used diffusion weighted MR imaging with three different spatial gradients to show brainstem tracts. With a high b-level above 1000 s/mm2 it is possible to identify more than 20 tracts due to their fiber anisotropy. With these sequences it is possible to differentiate brainstem lesions from tracts 1–7 and show the topographic relation of lesions to tracts.
FitzekCTinteraJ: Brainstem anatomy of white matter tracts in diffusin weighted EPI-MRI as basis of diagnostic imaging of brainstem infarction. Klein. Neuroradiol7: 154, 1997.
2.
FitzekCTinteraJ: Differentiation of recent from old infarction by diffusion weighted MR imaging (DWI). Neuroradiology, 1998 (in press).
EbisuTTanakaC: Hemorrhagic and nonhemorrhagic stroke: Diagnosis with diffusion-weighted and T2-weighted echo-planar MR imaging. Radiology203: 823–828, 1997.
5.
ElsterAD: MR contrast enhancement in brainstem and deep cerebral infarction. Am J Neuroradiol12: 1127–1132, 1991.
6.
ChienDBuxtonRB: MR diffusion imaging of the human brain. J Comp Assist Tomogr14: 514–520, 1990.
7.
WarachSDasheJFEdelmannRR: Clinical outcome in ischemic stroke predicted by early diffusion-weighted and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging: A preliminary analysis. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab16: 53–59, 1996.
8.
Schaltenbrand: Stereotaxy of the human brain. Thieme -Stuttgart1977.
