Penumbral topography in human stroke: Methodology and validation of the 'Penumbragram'

Abstract

The location as well as the volume of the ischemic penumbra in human stroke is likely to influence the outcome of therapeutic intervention but its spatial extent is poorly characterized. Based on the observation that infarct expansion progresses from the center to the periphery of the penumbra in animal stroke models, we describe a method of mapping the three-dimensional spatial extent of the penumbra relative to the infarct in a 'Penumbragram'. Central, peripheral and external zones of the final infarct were defined according to median voxel distance from the infarct center (IC) and were further subdivided by coronal, sagittal and axial planes through the IC. In 10 patients with hypoxic, vi..