Assessment of hyperacute stroke like symptoms by diffusion-weighted images.

We assessed the role of diffusion-weighted images in the evaluation of hyperacute stroke like symptoms in 18 patients. The volume of infarct measured by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) was correlated with the later computed tomography (CT) examinations. DWI had a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, and negative predictive value of 86% in detection of acute hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. There is a good correlation with the volume of infarct measured by DWI and follow-up CT with a P<.05.