Oligemia, Penumbra, Infarction – Understanding Hypoperfusion with Neuroimaging (2018) Lei Wu, MD

Description

This article analyzes the physiological definitions of ischemic injury (oligemia, penumbra, infarction) and the challenges of using current neuroimaging techniques (perfusion CT/MR, DWI-MR) to reliably differentiate these stages in acute ischemic stroke. It highlights the inconsistencies between imaging findings and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) values, arguing for a physiology-based approach to treatment decisions regarding reperfusion therapy rather than relying solely on time windows or imaging alone.