Lacunar Infarcts
Lacunar infarcts are the result of obstructions of blood flow in the small, deep arteries in the brain. Lacunar infarcts tend to occur in areas located away from the surface of the brain, where many of the smaller blood vessel branches are located. These infarcts occur most often in the basal ganglia, internal capsule, thalamus and brainstem (Lundy-Ekman, 2007).
In the United States and Western nations, lacunar infarcts account for 15-25% of all ischemic strokes (Sacco, 2006). The incidence of lacunar infarcts increases with age, and men may be more affected than women. Some studies have also found higher frequencies of lacunar strokes associated with African American, Mexican Americans, and Hong Kong Chinese (Mok, 2008).
In the United States and Western nations, lacunar infarcts account for 15-25% of all ischemic strokes (Sacco, 2006). The incidence of lacunar infarcts increases with age, and men may be more affected than women. Some studies have also found higher frequencies of lacunar strokes associated with African American, Mexican Americans, and Hong Kong Chinese (Mok, 2008).