Cerebral infarction X-ray manifestations

Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
Updated on November 06, 2024
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Brain infarction generally does not involve X-rays because X-rays primarily target bone issues, not brain tissue issues. If a brain infarction occurs, a cranial CT or MRI can be performed. In acute cases of sudden onset, a cranial CT is primarily used to exclude cerebral hemorrhage, as brain infarction typically does not show up in the acute phase. However, in cases of extensive brain infarction, changes might also appear on a CT during the acute phase. Additionally, after the acute phase, about 1 day or 24 hours later, brain infarctions generally appear as low-density shadows on a CT. On an MRI, in diffusion imaging, brain infarctions generally appear as high-density, high-signal areas, while they appear as low-signal areas in T1 imaging and high-signal areas in T2 imaging. It is also suggested to perform cranial magnetic resonance angiography to examine the status of the blood vessels.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Is a cerebral infarction a stroke?

Brain infarction is a type of stroke, and in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), stroke is categorized as an illness, differentiated as external and internal wind. External wind, as discussed in "Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases," occurs due to external evil invasions, also referred to as the Gui Zhi soup proof. Internal wind belongs to diseases caused by internal injuries, also termed brain stroke or sudden stroke. Commonly, stroke refers to the type caused by internal injuries involving disorders such as the chaos of qi and blood, obstruction of cerebral vessels, or blood overflow in the brain. It is a cerebral neurological disease identified mainly by sudden fainting, hemiplegia, numb limbs, difficult speech, facial distortion, and unilateral numbness. This condition is characterized by a sudden onset, rapid changes, and is akin to the pathogen of wind favoring rapid and multiple changes. The type of stroke discussed here is akin to a brain stroke. Brain infarction refers to the obstruction in a brain artery caused by various emboli such as intracardiac mural thrombi, atherosclerotic plaques, tumor cells, fibrocartilage, or air traveling with the bloodstream. When collateral circulation fails to compensate, it leads to ischemic necrosis of the brain tissue in the supplied area, causing focal neurological deficits. Cerebral hemorrhage, on the other hand, refers to bleeding within the brain tissue not caused by trauma but due to the rupture of intracerebral vessels. Both cerebral hemorrhage and brain infarction often result in varying degrees of motor deficits, cognitive impairments, and speech and swallowing difficulties, collectively referred to in stroke cases. Hence, brain infarction is considered a type of stroke.

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Written by Chen Ya
Geriatrics
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Brain infarction refers to the condition.

A cerebral infarction, commonly abbreviated, is typically referred to in full as thrombotic cerebral infarction or cerebral thrombosis. The most common cause is the formation of a local thrombus or from distant sites, such as the heart or major blood vessels, causing ischemia, hypoxia, and other disturbances in the cerebral blood supply. This results in localized ischemic necrosis or softening of brain tissue, leading to corresponding neurological deficits and signs.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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Do lacunar infarcts fear getting angry?

Lacunar stroke is caused by the occlusion of some small blood vessels in our skull due to pathological changes in the vessel walls after long-term hypertension, diabetes, or other diseases. Therefore, it usually stems from underlying conditions. Although getting angry may trigger a lacunar stroke, it's important to manage emotions as well. However, for lacunar stroke itself, the primary underlying causes are still hypertension, diabetes, and other risk factors. Thus, regardless of the situation, it's essential to avoid sudden and intense emotional changes, as such changes could potentially trigger a lacunar stroke.

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Written by Tang Bo
Neurology
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How many years can a person live with a lacunar stroke?

Lacunar stroke occurs when the small arteries within our brain undergo pathological changes due to long-term high blood pressure, leading to occlusion of the vessel lumen and consequently forming small stroke lesions. Generally, patients may exhibit symptoms, but these symptoms are usually mild. However, some patients are diagnosed during physical examinations. Regardless of the case, the prognosis is good, and lacunar stroke does not pose a life-threatening risk. Nevertheless, once a lacunar stroke occurs, it is essential to further investigate the condition of the blood vessels and check for risk factors such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Based on the situation, secondary prevention should be carried out to prevent another stroke.

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Written by Sheng Wang
Neurology
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How is lacunar stroke treated?

Lacunar infarction is a cerebrovascular disease. For lacunar infarctions caused by arteriosclerotic atherosclerosis, the main treatment is to prevent recurrence of infarction and dislodged plaques that cause blockages. Therefore, it is necessary to initiate treatments like aspirin, antiplatelet therapy, and atorvastatin to lower blood lipids and stabilize plaques. It is also important to control risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, as well as conditions like hyperuricemia and hyperhomocysteinemia.