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Brain Ischemia

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Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine

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Abstract

Acute focal cerebral ischemia, with brain perfusion below 20 ml/min per 100 g tissue, causes an immediate loss of function of the affected brain area and a cascade of pathologic events including tissue water uptake resulting in tissue necrosis if perfusion declines further. Patients with acute cerebral ischemia present with hemiparesis, hemianopia, speech disturbance, or impairment of consciousness. The differential diagnosis includes intracranial hemorrhage, congestive or hypertensive cerebral edema, focal encephalitis, demyelination disorder, metabolic disturbance, or tumor. Brain imaging is absolutely necessary for an exact diagnosis and to assess the acute pathology of the brain. Information provided by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should guide the management of stroke patients and can thus finally influence clinical outcome if the applied treatment is effective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, Universitätsklinikum Carl-Gustav-Carus, Dresden, Germany

    R. von Kummer

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  1. R. von Kummer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universitätsspital Nuklearmedizin, 8091, Zürich, Switzerland

    G. K. von Schulthess

  2. Kantonsspital Institut für Radiologie, 8401, Winterthur, Switzerland

    Ch. L. Zollikofer

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© 2004 Springer-Verlag Italia

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von Kummer, R. (2004). Brain Ischemia. In: von Schulthess, G.K., Zollikofer, C.L. (eds) Diseases of the Brain, Head and Neck, Spine. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2131-0_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2131-0_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0251-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2131-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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