Objective  To investigate the diagnostic value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in cerebral infarction. Methods  Thirty-eight patients with clinically or radiologically proved cerebral infarction were enrolled in this study

including 15 acute cerebral infarction and 17 subacute cerebral infarction cases and 6 chronic cerebral infarction cases with encephalomalacia. Conventional non-contrast s

equences including T

1

WI

T

2

WI

T

2

fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)

diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and SWI were performed in all patients

and 25 patients underwent magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Characteristics of these images were analyzed. Results  Eighteen hemorrhagic lesions within infarction were detected in 5 patients by routine sequences

while SWI showed 62 hemorrhagic lesions within infarction in 11 patients (

P

<

0.05). On SWI

acute cerebral infarction appeared isointensity in all 15 cases

subacute infarction displayed isointensity (11 cases) and hypointensity (6 cases)

and all chronic infarction (6 cases) demonstrated hypo-intensity. The intensity difference in different stages has statistical significance (

P

<

0.05). SWI found reduced venula inside the infarcted areas in all 15 acute cases

and revealed reduced venula (9 cases) and increased and tortuous venula (8 cases) in subacute infarction when compared with the unaffected side. Thickened and tortuous vessels were seen in all 6 chronic cases. The visualization of venula inside lesions in different stages has statistical significance (

P

<

0.05). MRA revealed one side middle cerebral artery occlusion in 17 patients

while SWI showed middle cerebral artery thrombi in all 17 cases. Conclusion  SWI is much better in demonstrating post-infarction hemorrhage and vascular reconstruction than conventional MRI sequences

and their combination is more accurate in cerebral infarction diagnosis and has important clinical values.