Etiologies of 3 territory diffusion-weighted lesions
| No. | Clinical/MR Imaging, DWI, Enhancement Features | |
|---|---|---|
| Suspected etiology (n = 29) | ||
| Trauma | 1 | History of trauma, imaging-associated sequelae of trauma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, shear pattern |
| Demyelinating | 1 | Age, history of multiple sclerosis, periventricular/corpus callosum predilection |
| Hypoxic-ischemic | 5 | Hypotension, deep nuclei and cortical ribbon involvement |
| Metastasis | 3 | History of malignancy and/or ring or enhancing lesion |
| Seizure | 1 | Seizures, deep nuclei and/or cortical ribbon enhancement |
| HIV-related (n = 2) | ||
| Toxoplasmosis | 1 | HIV, periventricular, ring, enhancing, target sign, rarely shows restricted diffusion |
| Fungal abscess | 1 | HIV, ring, enhancing, numerous restricted-diffusion lesions |
| Cerebral emboli (n = 10) | ||
| Endocarditis | 4 | Fever, leukocytosis, murmur, ring, enhancing |
| Air | 1 | Followed esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
| Fat | 1 | Followed long bone fracture |
| Atrial fibrillation | 2 | No source other than atrial fibrillation found |
| Aortic atheroma | 1 | Significant arch atheroma noted |
| Aortic dissection | 1 | Patient had concomitant aortic dissection |
| Postoperative (n = 6) | ||
| Aneurysm coiling | 1 | Symptoms developed postoperatively |
| Cardiac surgery | 4 | Symptoms developed postoperatively |
| Aortic aneurysm repair | 1 | Symptoms developed postoperatively |
| Not suspected (n = 10) | ||
| Malignancy-related | 9 | Lung (n = 4), colon (n = 2), renal (n = 1), pancreas (n = 1), bladder (n = 1) |
| Intravascular lymphoma | 1 | Proven by brain biopsy |
| Indeterminate (n = 2) | ||
| Incomplete history | 1 | Lost to follow-up |
| Multiple etiologies | 1 | Possible fat emboli vs Trousseau syndrome |