The imaging characteristics of blood on MRI can be variable:
| Age | T1 Weighted | T2 Weighted | |
| Hyperacute | Hours old, mainly oxyhemoglobin with surrounding edema | Hypointense | Hyperintense |
| Acute | Days old, mainly deoxyhemoglobin with surrounding edema | Hypointense | Hypointense, surrounded by hyperintense margin |
| Subacute | Weeks old, mainly methemoglobin | Hyperintense | Hypointense, early subacute with predominantly intracellular methemoglobin. Hyperintense, late subacute with predominantly extracellular methemoglobin |
| Chronic | Years old, hemosiderin slit or hemosiderin margin surrounding fluid cavity | Hypointense | Hypointense slit, or hypointense margin surrounding hyperintense fluid cavity |
References:
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Culebras A, Kase CS, Masdeu JC, Fox AJ, Bryan RN, Grossman CB, Lee DH, Adams HP, Thies W. Practice guidelines for the use of imaging in transient ischemic attacks and acute stroke. A report of the Stroke Council, American Heart Association. Stroke. 1997 Jul;28(7):1480-97. [Medline]
Created: Apr 19, 2005
