Intracranial hemorrhage: the role of magnetic resonance imaging.

The initial and exclusive use of MRI in patients with a stroke syndrome is feasible, probably cost-effective, and even time saving when considering its potential wealth of information. MRI may be the diagnostic tool of choice in patients with all stages of stroke, especially in the hyperacute assessment of ICH, and could be equivalent to CT and CTA in SAH diagnosis. The authors' aim is to provide a comprehensive review about the potential role of MRI in evaluating ICH and SAH. Emerging applications, such as the assessment of microbleeds as a risk factor for secondary hemorrhage after thrombolysis and perihemorrhagic ischemic changes as a potential marker for patients likely to benefit from hematoma evacuation, are reviewed.