Shashank Shekhar MBBS,MSc, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Ivan Marinkovic, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Aysan Durukan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Miia Pitkonen, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Daniel Strbian, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Usama Ramadan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Turgut Tatlisumak, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Decompressive Craniectomy (DC) improves outcomes after experimental Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in rats. We tested whether DC was associated with changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals in the lesioned brain hemisphere.

Four groups of rats underwent stereotactically-guided injection of autologous blood into the basal ganglia. Animals were randomly allocated to no decompressive craniectomy (No-DC) or to decompressive craniectomy at 1hour (1h-DC), 6 hours (6h-DC), or 24 hours (24h-DC). A fifth group without ICH underwent craniectomy only (DC-only). All animals were serially evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at days 0, 3, and 7.

In perihematomal region, relative apparent diffusion coefficient (rADC) and relative T2-Signal intensity (rT2-SI) values increased in all groups from day 0 to day 3 and reduced at day 7. rADC in the cortical region on day 3 was increased in rats with ICH treated with early DC (1 and 6 h) post ICH compared to the No-DC group. There was no corresponding rT2-SI values change, however, slight increases in values were observed with time. In the No-DC group, no decreases in (rADC) values were observed in the perihematomal ROI.  

DC performed at 1 and 6 hours post-ICH induced MRI changes indicative of brain edema both in perihematomal tissue and the cortex. There was no evidence of perihematomal penumbra or secondary ischemic injury in the cortex.

Increased perihematomal and increased cortical rADC values may be predictors of favorable outcome in ICH treated with DC.

Shekhar, S, Marinkovic, I, Durukan, A, Pitkonen, M, Strbian, D, Ramadan, U, Tatlisumak, T, Evolution of Brain MRI Signals after Decompressive Craniectomy for Experimental Intracerebral Hemorrhage.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11034559.html