Modern imaging-techniques in ischemic stroke

The introduction of thromboysis for the therapy of hyperacute ischemic stroke offers new challenges for diagnostic imaging. In addition to excluding intracranial hemorrhage the estimation of already irreversibly damaged areas of brain (infarction) is necessary. In addition information about the arterial supply to the brain is desirable. Currently reliable results about the value of thrombolytic therapy only exist with the use of plain CT. Modern techniques like multisection CT and MRI allow to study brain perfusion and to visualize extra- and intracranial arteries. In addition MRI offers diffusion-weighted imaging where even very small infarctions ore shown with high sensitivity. The aim of this article is an introduction to these now imaging-techniques and an assessment of their value for therapeutical decisions in patients with ischemic stroke.