Cerebral ischemia detected with diffusion-weighted MR imaging after stent implantation in the carotid artery.

Abstract

In 29% of the procedures, stent implantation in the carotid artery was associated with new areas of cerebral ischemia, as detected by using diffusion-weighted MR images; these findings indicated the occurrence of cerebral microemboli during such procedures. In all patients except one, the new lesions were clinically silent.