Neurovascular Imaging: State of the Art and Clinical Challenges

Approximately three-quarters of all ischemic cerebral infarcts occur within the territory supplied by the main arterial trunk perfusing each cerebral hemisphere (middle cerebral artery designated MCA). Detection of early ischemic change on noncontrast CT can be difficult, since many of the early radiological findings can be normal (Figures  2.4a and 2.5a) or subtle (Figure 2.5c). Early radiological signs indicate parenchymal infarction associated with pathological vessel occlusion (Wardlaw and Meilke 2005).