Mark J. Bouts1, Ivo A. Tiebosch1, Annette van der Toorn1, Jeroen Hendrikse2, Rick M. Dijkhuizen1
1Biomedical MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Group, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
In cerebral ischemic stroke, characterization of the extent and location of vessel occlusion in relation to the spatiotemporal development of ischemic lesions may lead to improved diagnosis. Therefore, we aimed to distinguish different patterns of occlusion of segments of the Circle of Willis, measured with MRA, and correlate these with acute ischemic lesions, measured with diffusion- and perfusion-weighted MRI, in a rat embolic stroke model. We found that occlusion of the proximal segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA.M1), was most strongly associated with development of a large acute ischemic lesion in cortical and subcortical tissue, whereas occlusion of the internal carotid artery in conjuction with incomplete occlusion of the MCA reduced acute lesion growth.
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