The MRI study on the changes of lesion volume and ADC values of brainstem infarction and the correlation with clinical prognosis

Abstract

Objective To explore the regular variation of lesion volume and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of brainstem infarction in different stages after stroke symptom onset, and analyse the correlation between infarction volume, ADC value and clinical prognosis. Methods Eleven patients with brainstem infarction underwent 5 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations within 7 d, 15 d, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after symptom onset. The lesion volumes and relative ADC (rADC) values were measured in different stages of brainstem infarction. At the same time, motor deficits were assessed with Fugl⁃Meyer Motor Scale (FMMS) score. The difference of infarction volumes, rADC values and FMMS scores at different time points were compared. The correlation between infarction volumes, rADC values and FMMS scores was analysed, respectively. Results The infarction volumes significantly decreased progressively with time (F = 4.553, P = 0.003), while the rADC values significantly increased progressively with time (F = 22.991, P = 0.000). Negative correlation was seen between the lesion volume and FMMS score (r = ⁃ 0.686, P = 0.020) within 7 d, but no correlation was seen at other time points (P > 0.05). There was no significant correlation between rADC values and the FMMS scores after infarction (P > 0.05). Conclusion There is certain regularity in the changes of infarction volume and rADC value in patients with brainstem infarction in different stages. However, no strong correlation of early infarction size and rADC value with motor outcome is detected. DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2011.03.010