Role of Ultrafast MR Imaging in Stroke Patients

Objectives The aim of the study is to assess the role of ultrafast (UF) magnetic resonance (MR) sequences in stroke imaging. Material and Methods We prospectively studied 85 patients having clinical suspicion of stroke referred for MR imaging (MRI) during August 2016 to July 2018. These patients were subjected to both conventional and UF MRI sequences. The patients were divided into six categories based on the pathologies encountered. Further subclassification was done based on the size of the lesions as ≤10 mm and >10 mm as seen separately in both UF and conventional MR sequences. The number and visibility of these lesions on conventional and UF MRI were compared. The image quality of all the subjects was also compared based on a scale categorized into excellent, satisfactory, and poor. The findings on conventional and UF imaging sequences were correlated with the final clinical diagnosis arrived at the time of discharge. Results In our study comprising 85 patients, 57 showed pathologies. The patients showing pathologies were assigned into the six categories as acute infarct (34 cases), acute hemorrhagic infarct (six cases), chronic infarct (17 cases), chronic hemorrhagic infarct (four cases), subacute infarct (three cases), and chronic hemorrhage (one case). The number of lesions seen on conventional and UF sequences were the same although there was a slight decrease in the size of the lesions on UF sequences as compared with conventional counterparts. The image quality using UF sequences was better in motion prone patients while conventional imaging showed better image quality in cooperative patients. Conclusion In motion prone patients, UF sequences are a suitable alternative for conventional sequences as they help in arriving at the diagnosis in lesser time, with reasonably good image quality, and without motion artifacts. In cooperative stroke patients, it is better to use conventional MR sequences as the image quality is better.