Table 3.

Categorization and prevalence of brain infarctions by estimated time of occurrence prior to death, brain location and size

Age of infarct	Brain location of infarct	Size class of cortical infarct
Acute (n = 101; 12%)	Any location (n = 521; 43%)	Microinfarct (n = 213; 18%)
Subacute or chronic (n = 430; 36%)	Cerebral cortex (n = 314; 26%)	Lacunar (1 cc or less) (n = 49; 4%)
	Centrum ovale (n = 92; 8%)	Small (1–27 cc) (n = 97; 8%)
	Deep nuclei (n = 282; 23%)	Large (more than 27 cc) (n = 58; 5%)
	Infratentorial (n = 235; 20%)

Infarcts are also each assigned an estimated volume. Infarcts within the hippocampal formation and amygdala are classified with cerebral cortex infarcts. Centrum ovale infarcts are defined as those that are restricted to the centrum ovale; if the infarct involves both cerebral cortex and centrum ovale, it is classified as a cerebral cortex infarct. Deep nuclei infarcts include those of the basal ganglia, thalamus, subthalamic regions and hypothalamus. Infratentorial infarcts are those involving the brainstem and/or cerebellum. Number and percentage of subjects with each infarct type are indicated in parentheses. Microscopic infarcts are those not identified grossly and generally average about 0.1 cc in volume.