NONINVASIVE DIAGNOSIS IN CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA BY MEANS OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING AND NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY

We describe the non-invasive assessment of cerebrovascular reserve capacity by means of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and magnetic resonance imaging. Both methods are compared with transcranial Doppler sonography. There is a good correlation of the three methods in the changes in cerebral oxygen saturation and in blood velocity following acetazolamide stimulation of cerebral blood flow, except found in one patient with unilateral carotid artery occlusion. In this patient we found a decreased cerebrovascular reserve capacity, revealed by a magnetic resonance technique designed to quantify CBV and CBF. We postulate a raised oxygen extraction as the cause of his changes in oxygen saturation.