The Role of Tractography in Ischemic Stroke: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Neuroimaging in acute stroke is needed to define the diagnosis, treatment, and establish the prognosis of the patient. Magnetic resonance and its different techniques have revolutionized neurology practice due to its greater definition of structures. Tractography is obtained by diffusion tensor imaging, which evaluates the diffusion of water molecules and creates an indirect representation of the integrity of white matter tracts. The use of tractography has focused on the prediction of motor outcome; however, its results are controversial. In this review, we explain how tractography is obtained and how the information is interpreted and translated into clinical practice. We discuss the role of tractography of the corticospinal and supplementary motor tracts in predicting the motor and functional outcome after acute stroke.