Accuracy of Diffusion Weighted Imaging in the diagnosis and evaluation of Acute Ischemic Strokes

Objective: To assess the accuracy of application of diffusion weighted imaging in the diagnosis and evaluation of acute onset ischemic strokes. Study Design: Cross sectional validation study. Place and Duration: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mardan Medical Complex, Hospital, Mardan from 15th October 2020 to 15th April 2021. Methodology: Patients whose presentation was highly suggestive of acute stroke, were undergone a non-contrast Computed tomography scan of the brain immediately by Asteion VP single slice. Those found negative for acute hemorrhage on Computed tomography images were subjected to Magnetic resonance imaging on Achieva 1.5 Tesla. Diffusion-weighted imaging technique of MRI scan was done in addition to the conventional T1W, T2W, and FLAIR scans of MRI which were also done. DWI was performed as early as possible not later than 24 hours after symptoms onset. Both DWI imaging technique and conventional routine T1W, T2W and FLAIR scans of MRI were repeated after 7 days. Results: The mean age of the sample was 57.6 + 5.9 years. On Diffusion-weighted imaging, stroke was observed in 60.2% of patients. Later on follow-up conventional magnetic resonance imaging scans were done after 7 days, stroke was recorded in 69.9% of patients confirming the diagnostic accuracy of DWI imaging in sub-acute stroke in early diagnosis. Conclusion: Conventional MRI scans like T1W, T2W and FLAIR have diagnostic accuracy only after some days. It has poor diagnostic accuracy in early onset sub-acute ischemic strokes. On the other hand, DWI imaging scans of MRI can be a useful tool for early detection of ischemic strokes as it diagnosed stroke in 60.2% of patients which were later confirmed by conventional MRI scans done after 7 days. Conventional MRI scans have high accuracy of detection of strokes but only after some days. So DW1 imaging may be applied for early diagnosis of strokes in sub-acute onset strokes. Keywords: Ischemic stroke, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Diffusion Weighted Imaging, Hemorrhage, Computed Tomography How to Cite This: Afridi SQ, Baig H, Janan Z, Begum T, Shuaib M. Accuracy of diffusion-weighted imaging in the diagnosis and Evaluation of acute ischemic strokes. Isra Med J. 2022; 14(3): 99-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55282/imj.oa1314