THE ROLE OF NEUROIMAGING (MRI AND CT) IN THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF ISCHEMIC STROKE

Аннотация

Ischemic stroke is one of the most pressing issues in modern medicine, and its early diagnosis plays a crucial role in preserving patients’ quality of life and reducing complications. Neuroimaging methods, including computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are considered key diagnostic tools in the early detection of stroke. CT provides rapid results in differentiating between hemorrhagic and ischemic types during the acute stage, while MRI demonstrates high sensitivity in identifying small lesions and early changes in brain tissue. This article analyzes the clinical significance of ischemic stroke, the role of neuroimaging in its early diagnosis, and the capabilities of CT and MRI based on modern scientificliterature. Keywords:ischemicstroke, neuroimaging, CT,MRI, early diagnosis, diagnostics. Introduction: Ischemic stroke is currently one of the most widespread neurological diseases worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, more than 12 million new cases of stroke are recorded annually across the globe, of which 80 percent are ischemic types [1; 2020: p.44]. This condition is characterized not only by a high mortality rate but also by severe disability. The first few hours of ischemic stroke are crucial, as accurate and timely diagnosis plays a decisive role in saving lives. In clinical practice, if the patient is diagnosed within the first 3–6 hours, the chances of administering thrombolytic therapy and other effective treatments increase significantly [2; 2018: p.27]. From this perspective, modern neuroimaging techniques—computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—are widely used as the most reliable and effective diagnostic methods for the early detection of ischemic stroke. CT helps rapidly differentiate between hemorrhagic and ischemic types, while MRI plays acrucial role inidentifying small-scale changes inbrain tissue. 546 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue08,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai In this article, the scientific and fundamental role of MRI and CT in the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke, as well as their advantages and limitations, is analyzed based on literature sources. The problem of early diagnosis of ischemic stroke has been one of the most intensively studied areas in neurology over the past decades. Numerous studies conducted worldwide have shown that accurate diagnosis within the first hours of stroke onset directly affects the patient’s future quality of life and treatment outcomes [3; 2017: p.214]. For this reason, neuroimaging methodsare regarded as leading diagnostic toolsin clinical practice. Computed tomography (CT) is widely used as the first-choice method in stroke diagnosis. This technique allows for a rapid distinction between hemorrhagic and ischemic types of stroke within a short time frame. The main advantages of CT are its wide availability, speed, and high accuracy. Research indicates that CT has up to 95% sensitivity in detecting hemorrhages during the acute stage of stroke [4; 2019: p.63]. However, CT has limitations in the early detection of smallischemiclesions. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has significant advantages in detecting subtle changes in brain tissue. In particular, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is noteworthy because it can reveal pathological processes within the first 30 minutes of stroke onset [5; 2021: p.118]. MRI allows precise visualization of small infarct foci, as well as lesions in the brainstem and posterior brain regions. For this reason, many authors recognize MRI as the “gold standard” in theearly diagnosis of stroke[6;2016: p.97]. In recent years, several scientific sources have emphasized that the combined use of CT and MRI further improves diagnostic accuracy. CT provides the opportunity to rule out hemorrhagic stroke, while MRI enables the detection of ischemic lesions. Such a combined approach is considered highly effective, especially in the early stages of medical care [7; 2015: p.145]. A review of the literature shows that both methods have their advantages and limitations, complementing one another. The speed and availability of CT make it crucial in emergency medicine, whereas the high sensitivity of MRI enhances diagnostic precision in the early stages ofstroke. Aim: To determine the role of neuroimaging methods—particularly computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—in the early diagnosis of ischemic stroke and to analyze theiradvantages and limitationsbased ontheliterature. Objectives: 1. To describe theepidemiology and clinical significance ofischemicstroke. 2. To review thedevelopment of neuroimaging methods and theirdiagnostic capabilities. 3. To compare the advantages and limitations of CT and MRI in the early diagnosis of ischemicstroke. 4. To synthesize evidence from the literature on the effectiveness of CT and M