Clinical and imaging features in different inner border-zone infarct patterns

Background and purpose: The clinical and imaging features of different inner border-zone infarct patterns, corona radiata (CR) and centrum semiovale (CSO), is not quiet clear. Both are mostly reported together in previous studies. We intended to observe their clinical and imaging features. Method: We observed 83 patients-47 cases with CR infarct lesion pattern and 36 cases with CSO. The lesion patterns were determined by diffusion-weighted imaging. Basic, clinical and radiologic features were compared between the patients with CR and CSO infarct lesion patterns. Results: There was no significant difference between CR and CSO infarct patterns in terms of risk factors. However, patients with CR infarct had a higher initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission (5.2 +/- 2.3) than with CSO (3.9 +/- 2.0, p = 0.009). Early clinical deterioration (OR, 2.42; 95% Cl, 1.12-5.21; p = 0.024) and middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis (OR, 10.31; 95% Cl, 3.30-32.19; p < 0.0001) were independently associated with the CR infarct lesion pattern. Partial infarct lesion shape (OR, 5.95; 95% CI, 1.40-25.33; p = 0.016) and internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis (OR, 5.28; 95% Cl, 1.92-14.51; p = 0.001) were independently correlated with the CSO infarct lesion pattern. Conclusions: Although CR and CSO infarct patterns might share common etiology and mechanisms, their clinical and imaging features are different.