Is There a Relationship Between the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Scores and Magnetic Resonance Volumetric Measurements in Acute Stroke?

Objective: In this study, we determined the relationship between the volumetric measurement value detected in the acute infarct area by diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS).
Methods: This is a cohort study comparing the relationship between volumetric volume measured by diffusion MRI and NIHSS in patients with a definite diagnosis of stroke. Between February 2014 and February 2015, 99 patients over the age 18 and 57 healthy controls who applied within the first 72 h after the onset of acute stroke symptoms were included. Inclusion criteria of the patients; patients with ischemic stroke admitted to the hospital within 72 h of symptom onset, patients with MRI (including DWI) within 72 h of symptom onset are patients with an NIHSS score obtained just before MRI. DWI lesion volumes were measured on the image of the maximum contrast (ie, the DWI with the highest b-value) between the lesion and normal brain regions.
Results: The results of the volumetric measurement values determined in the patient group; left MCA 40.6%, right MCA 31.7%, left ACA 2%, right ACA 2%, left PCA 9.9%, right PCA 8.9%, left cerebellar 7.9%, right cerebellar 6%, 9, left PICA 5%, right PICA 5%, thalamooperferator 2%, AICA 2%, lacunar 2%. A statistically significant correlation was found between the NIHSS score and volumetric measurements (p<0.005).
Conclusion: Segmenting penumbra and infarct core regions based on PWI and DWI, and making volumetric measurements are important in determining immediate and future risks in acute stroke patients.