Rapid Stroke Classification and Prognosis Monitoring with High-Spatiotemporal Resolution Microwave-Induced Thermoacoustic Imaging.

OBJECTIVE

Rapid differentiation of hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes and dynamic monitoring of stroke evolution are essential for timely intervention and prognosis assessment. However, current imaging approaches face challenges in achieving both rapid stroke differentiation and dynamic monitoring. This study aims to develop a high-spatiotemporal-resolution microwave induced thermoacoustic imaging (HR-MTAI) technique for rapid stroke differentiation and monitoring of stroke evolution.

METHODS

We developed an HR-MTAI system with a B-mode imaging frame rate of 100 Hz and a lateral resolution of 200 μm by exploiting thermoacoustic contrast associated with tissue electrical properties and pathological changes. Rodent models of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke were established to evaluate the capability of HR-MTAI for stroke differentiation and dynamic assessment.

RESULTS

HR-MTAI revealed opposite thermoacoustic contrast patterns between hemorrhagic and ischemic lesions, supporting rapid differentiation of the two stroke types. The system further provided sub millimeter three-dimensional localization and quantitative assessment of lesion regions. In ischemic stroke models, HR-MTAI captured the temporal evolution of both permanent and transient cerebral ischemia models.

CONCLUSION

HR-MTAI enables rapid, high-resolution, and quantitative visualization of stroke pathology, providing a comprehensive approach for stroke classification and dynamic monitoring.

SIGNIFICANCE: HR-MTAI provides a noninvasive approach for rapid stroke classification and prognostic monitoring in preclinical models, offering a potential imaging strategy for investigating stroke dynamics and facilitating future development of rapid stroke assessment technologies.