BACKGROUND: New imaging criteria for recent small subcortical infarcts have recently been proposed, replacing the earlier term 'lacunar infarction', but their applicability and impact on lesion selection is yet unknown. AIMS: To collect information on the morphologic characteristics and variability of recent small subcortical infarcts on magnetic resonance imaging in regard to lesion location and demographic variables. METHODS: We identified all patients with acute stroke and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging from 2008 to 2013 in our hospital database and selected those with a single recent small subcortical infarct defined by an estimated maximal axial diameter of 20 mm. Recent small subcortical infarcts were segmented on diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence to calculate the largest axial and longitudinal diameter and lesion volume. We assessed morphometric differences of recent small subcortical infarcts regarding location and demographic variables and the impact of different recent small subcortical infarct definitions on lesion selection. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-four patients (median age 72; range 25-92 years, 65% male) were selected. Most recent small subcortical infarcts were located in the basal ganglia (n = 111), followed by pons (n = 92), thalamus (n = 77), and centrum semiovale (n = 64). Quantitative measurements confirmed visual assessment of the axial diameter in 95%. All morphometric variables were strongly intercorrelated and comparable on diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence. Recent small subcortical infarcts in the basal ganglia were significantly larger both in the axial and longitudinal direction compared with other regions. Dichotomization of recent small subcortical infarcts according to axial (≤ / >15 mm) or longitudinal (≤ / >20 mm) sizes resulted in different regional frequencies and distributions. Age, gender, and time from stroke onset to magnetic resonance imaging did not influence lesion metrics or the distribution of recent small subcortical infarcts. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the recent neuroimaging criteria for recent small subcortical infarcts as a practical concept. Definitions of the maximal axial and longitudinal diameter have a significant impact on the frequency and distribution of selected infarcts, which has to be considered for future studies.
BACKGROUND: New imaging criteria for recent small subcortical infarcts have recently been proposed, replacing the earlier term 'lacunar infarction', but their applicability and impact on lesion selection is yet unknown. AIMS: To collect information on the morphologic characteristics and variability of recent small subcortical infarcts on magnetic resonance imaging in regard to lesion location and demographic variables. METHODS: We identified all patients with acute stroke and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging from 2008 to 2013 in our hospital database and selected those with a single recent small subcortical infarct defined by an estimated maximal axial diameter of 20 mm. Recent small subcortical infarcts were segmented on diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence to calculate the largest axial and longitudinal diameter and lesion volume. We assessed morphometric differences of recent small subcortical infarcts regarding location and demographic variables and the impact of different recent small subcortical infarct definitions on lesion selection. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-four patients (median age 72; range 25-92 years, 65% male) were selected. Most recent small subcortical infarcts were located in the basal ganglia (n = 111), followed by pons (n = 92), thalamus (n = 77), and centrum semiovale (n = 64). Quantitative measurements confirmed visual assessment of the axial diameter in 95%. All morphometric variables were strongly intercorrelated and comparable on diffusion-weighted imaging and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence. Recent small subcortical infarcts in the basal ganglia were significantly larger both in the axial and longitudinal direction compared with other regions. Dichotomization of recent small subcortical infarcts according to axial (≤ / >15 mm) or longitudinal (≤ / >20 mm) sizes resulted in different regional frequencies and distributions. Age, gender, and time from stroke onset to magnetic resonance imaging did not influence lesion metrics or the distribution of recent small subcortical infarcts. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the recent neuroimaging criteria for recent small subcortical infarcts as a practical concept. Definitions of the maximal axial and longitudinal diameter have a significant impact on the frequency and distribution of selected infarcts, which has to be considered for future studies.
Authors: Daniela Pinter; Thomas Gattringer; Christian Enzinger; Thomas Seifert-Held; Markus Kneihsl; Simon Fandler; Alexander Pichler; Christian Barro; Sebastian Eppinger; Lukas Pirpamer; Gerhard Bachmaier; Stefan Ropele; Joanna M Wardlaw; Jens Kuhle; Michael Khalil; Franz Fazekas Journal: J Cereb Blood Flow Metab Date: 2018-05-08 Impact factor: 6.200
Authors: Mindy Y Q Tan; Shaloo Singhal; Henry Ma; Ronil V Chandra; Jamie Cheong; Benjamin B Clissold; John Ly; Velandai Srikanth; Thanh G Phan Journal: Front Neurol Date: 2016-12-05 Impact factor: 4.003
Authors: Sebastian Eppinger; Thomas Gattringer; Lena Nachbaur; Simon Fandler; Lukas Pirpamer; Stefan Ropele; Joanna Wardlaw; Christian Enzinger; Franz Fazekas Journal: Ther Adv Neurol Disord Date: 2019-04-22 Impact factor: 6.570
Authors: Ewgenia Barow; Hans Pinnschmidt; Florent Boutitie; Alina Königsberg; Martin Ebinger; Matthias Endres; Jochen B Fiebach; Jens Fiehler; Vincent Thijs; Robin Lemmens; Keith W Muir; Norbert Nighoghossian; Salvador Pedraza; Claus Z Simonsen; Christian Gerloff; Götz Thomalla; Bastian Cheng Journal: Neurol Res Pract Date: 2020-08-03