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Middle/Posterior Watershed Infarction

A 67 year-old man was found unable to see following a cardiac arrest and sustained hypoperfusion.

Outline the Infarction and Show the Vascular Territories

Diffusion Weighted MRI scan - note the bilateral area of acute infarction.  This area is between the middle and posterior cerebral artery territories and is known as the posterior watershed.  Watershed infarction usually follows hypoperfusion and are usually bilateral, especially following cardiac arrest.  Bilateral watershed infarctions may lead to cortical blindness, Balint's syndrome and other abnormalities of cortical visual function.


Revised 04/23/06.
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