Brain Health:
Conditions
In an ischemic stroke, the blood supply to part of the brain is decreased, leading to dysfunction of the brain tissue in that area.
An ischemic stroke (cerebral infarction) occurs when a blood vessel that supplies a part of the brain becomes blocked. This loss of blood supply results in the death of brain tissue in that area. Cerebral infarctions vary in severity, with one-third of the cases resulting in death.
Stroke remains a diagnosis based on clinical exam findings. By understanding deficits resulting from brain lesions, a neurologist can localize a stroke to a specific lobe or hemisphere of the brain. Computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning can show the damaged area in the brain and rule out other causes of neurologic deficits, i.e. hemorrhage, tumor, subdural hematoma, or other brain disorders. Vessel imaging to identify the arterial blockage can be performed with CT Angiography (CTA), MR Angiography (MRA), or conventional angiography by neurointerventionalists.
For patient assistance, the treatment team at Emory uses multidisciplinary physician teams, state-of-the-art technology, and the highest quality patient care.
