Abstract
We reported a multi-infarct patient with a sudden onset of right hemiparesis and dysarthria, who was determined an acute ischemic lesion among multiple infarcts using echo planar diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images(DWI). Two days after the onset, T2-weighted fast spin echo images showed only multiple lesions shown as same high signal lesions in the territory of left middle cerebral artery, not showing any lesion which was responsible for the present symptoms. However, DWI using multi-shot echo planar imaging clearly demonstrated an acute ischemic lesion in precentral cortex as a very high signal area with good contrast. The regional apparent diffusion coefficient in the precentral lesion was decreased to 0.65±0.21×10^<-3>mm^2/sec. Echo planar DWI obtained for short acquisiton time is very useful for distinguishing an acute ischemic lesion from chronic lesions.
