ABSTRACT
Neuroimaging plays a critical role in the management of patients with ischemic stroke. The success and safety of pharmacologic and mechanical interventions depends on the precise diagnosis of ischemic stroke and the exclusion of other pathologies. Although CT is currently the most widely availableand thus most commonly used-initial imaging modality, increasing evidence shows that multimodal MRI provides additional clinically relevant diagnostic and prognostic information to optimize patient management. It is also an important research tool with which to study stroke pathophysiology and identify new treatments. In this chapter, we discuss the clinical and research roles of MRI.
