Diffusion-weighted MR imaging of intracerebral hemorrhage

Objective To observe the DWI features of intracerehral hemorrhage(ICH)at different evolving stages.Meth- ods Twenty-two patients with ICH underwent DWI.According to the time interva[ between symptom onset and initial MRI,five stages were categorized,i.e.hyperacute(n=3);acute(n=3),early subacute(n=5),late subacute(n=7)and chronic(n=4).T1 and T2 weighted imaging of these cases were reviewed.Results Hematomas were hyperintense at the hyperacute and late subaeute stages,and hypointense at the acute,early subaeute and chronic stages on DWI.Focal hypoin- tensity was observed invariably within a hyperacute hematoma.At the hyperaeute,acute and early subaeute stages,hyperin- tense rims surrounding the hematoma were present.Conclusion ICH has different characteristic DWI features at different stages.DWI can be helpful to the differentiation of hemorrhage from isehemia.