Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Basilar Artery Occlusion

Abstract
OCCLUSION of the basilar artery is a neurologic emergency that requires a rapid diagnostic evaluation and subsequent therapy. Intra-arterial thrombolysis may improve overall outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion,1,2 but predicting benefit from therapy is still difficult in individual patients. This is probably partially owing to the fact that tissue injury in critical brainstem structures may already be irreversible in some patients before therapy is initiated. Angiographically, short occlusions, good collateral flow, and fast recanalization correlate with a favorable outcome.3,4 However, angiography does not show the extent of ischemic tissue injury directly.