Analysis of Cerebral Infarct Signal Intensity on Diffusion-Weighted MR Images Using Frequency Domain Techniques

Early and accurate diagnosis of cerebral infarction plays a vital role in the implementation of successful treatment and thereby improving the quality of life. Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI) is a highly sensitive tool for the detection of early changes in the water diffusion that characterizes various brain pathologies, largely, cerebral infarctions. Studies were performed on a set of Diffusion Weighted (DW) images of the human brain (in the axial plane) to find the relationship between the light intensity High Frequency Power (HFP) values and the time course of cerebral infarction, and to present evidence in defining the stages of cerebral infarction. Analysis of the results show that the difference in the light intensity HFP values on the DW images for the subjects with cerebral infarction compared to their contralateral normal hemisphere, were highly significant (p < 0.01) in the areas of the brain, where there was a high incidence of infarction. The relative increase in the light intensity HFP values (RHFP) for the subjects with cerebral infarc- tion were in the range of (153.06 - 1780.43) times compared to their corresponding HFP values on the contralateral normal hemisphere. The observed RHFP values increased progressively with time and were at the peak for the examinations be- tween 1 to 4 days and thereafter reduced to reach the minimum after 15 days. There was a negative correlation (r = - 0.74) observed between the RHFP values and the time stage of cerebral infarction. The evolution of the RHFP values observed subsequent to infarction is suggestive that they can be supportive in understanding the developmental stages of infarction and can be helpful in predicting the stage of infarction. The quantitative changes in the light intensity HFP values can be assessed to derive information about the early changes taking place in the brain tissue. Further their adoption in clinical diagnosis and treatment of cerebral infarction could be helpful and informative. In conclusion, the proposed method could positively assist the neuro-surgeons for speedy diagnosis and execution of treatment to protect the subjects from additional damage to their brain tissue.