Detection of different patterns of contrast enhancement can help in determining the age of infarct. There are two patterns of MR contrast enhancement in the acute phase of ischemic stroke-intravascular enhancement and cortical enhancement.

In a study of evolution of contrast enhancement pattern during first week of acute infarct, it is proven that Intravascular enhancement is detectable from day 1  and cortical enhancement starts from day 2 and intensity increases as with the age of infarct during the first week of onset of symptoms ¹.

After the first few days, there is a well-known phase of parenchymal contrast enhancement caused by leakage of contrast material across the disrupted blood-brain barrier.