Identifying hypoxic tissue after acute ischemic stroke using PET and 18F-fluoromisonidazole

Abstract

Objective: To show that PET with 18F-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) can detect peri-infarct hypoxic tissue in patients after ischemic stroke. Background: PET with 15O-labeled oxygen and water is the only established method for identifying the ischemic penumbra in humans. We used PET with 18F-FMISO in patients after ischemic stroke to identify hypoxic but viable peri-infarct tissue likely to represent the ischemic penumbra, and to determine how long hypoxic tissues persist after stroke. Methods: Patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke were studied using PET with 18F- FMISO either within 48 hours or 6 to 11 days after stroke onset. The final infarct was defined by CT performed 6 to 11 ..