can a stroke not show up on a MRI? - Stroke Message Board

Lost · 06-06-2001, 12:54 PM

can a stroke not show up on a MRI, CAT and EEG test? are there additional tests one can take?

Pooky · 06-06-2001, 03:41 PM

I don't know if a MRI will show if you've had a stroke. The hospital I was at used a CT Scan to learn more about my stroke (what type of stroke I had, etc). However, I think I had a MRI last year, so that may be used, also

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I had a hemorrhagic stroke on September 8, 1999.

Sparky · 06-06-2001, 07:37 PM

My mother must have had a stoke, she can barely use her left leg, but nothing showed up on a CT scan nor MRI. Her doctor said that small stokes sometimes do not show up.

axe · 06-25-2001, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sparky:
My mother must have had a stoke, she can barely use her left leg, but nothing showed up on a CT scan nor MRI. Her doctor said that small stokes sometimes do not show up.

Within the first 48hrs ischaemic strokes often do not show up on CT. We only do head CT's earlier on <48hrs of presentation to exlude haemorrhagic strokes which frequently need neurosurgical management as opposed to ischaemic strokes which only need medical management and supportive care. MRI is more sensitive at detecting strokes, but is not primarily used for stroke detection/diagnosis.

kind regards

Pooky · 10-02-2001, 07:47 PM

The other day, my neurolgist showed me (actually, he showed a student and since I was there I saw it) some pictures of a CT scan or MRI that came from this lady. He told the student that the lady had a stroke. The student looked at the picture and said "how do you know?" My neurologist replied "you can barely see it on this picture, because she had veinous thrombosis, which is hardly ever noticed on these things." You might have veinous thrombosis, and that could be why your stroke doesn't show up on the CT scan. I have deep veinous thrombosis.

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I had a hemorrhagic stroke on September 8, 1999.