Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Internal Carotid Artery Dissection

Abstract
Analysis of infarct patterns on computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has led to deeper insights into the mechanisms of cerebral ischemia. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) allows the identification of small ischemic lesions, which may not be detected by computed tomography or conventional MR imaging.1,2 Multiple acute ischemic lesions, also known as acute multiple brain infarction (AMBI), on DWI are associated with arterial or cardiac sources of embolism.3,4 This pattern is believed to arise from repeated embolism or the fragmentation of a single embolus, resulting in at least 2 noncontiguous areas of cerebral infarction.4,5