Haemorrhagic infarct vs intracerebral haemorrhage

Haemorrhagic infarct or haemorrhagic transformation of an infarct is seen following breakdown of the lamina of the microvessels.

Intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) may overlap with a haemorrhagic infarct and hence needs to be differentiated as the line of treatment will vary.

Differentiating points

Haemorrhagic infarct

• areas of infarct remote from the site of haemorrhagic infarct
• on perfusion imaging, the centre of the haematoma corresponds to highest risk of infarction
• evidence of occlusive disease on TOF imaging

Intracerebral haemorrhage

• on perfusion imaging, the region of the deficit does not extend beyond the region of infarct