MR Imaging Selection of Acute Stroke Patients with Emergent Large Vessel Occlusions for Thrombectomy

Acute stroke caused by large vessel occlusions (LVOs) are common. The time window to treat is up to 24 hours, and the most important factor is the size of the ischemic core. If the core is small (<70-100 mL), the penumbra must be large; penumbral imaging is unnecessary. MR imaging is precise in measuring the core, and superior to alternatives. The necessary sequences are obtainable rapidly, comparable to computed tomography scans. Available evidence suggests that most patients with LVOs are slow progressors defined as having a small core 6 hours or more after ictus onset.