Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of low-field MRI (0.55 T) for rapid detection of acute ischemic stroke in emergency settings.

Methods: Fifty patients presenting with suspected acute stroke underwent both low-field and standard 1.5 T MRI within 6 hours of symptom onset. Lesion detectability, image quality, and scan time were compared.

Results: Low-field MRI detected 46/50 acute infarcts (sensitivity 92%), with excellent agreement with standard MRI (κ = 0.88). Mean scan time was reduced by 22%, and image quality was rated diagnostic in 94% of cases.

Conclusion: Low-field MRI is a viable, rapid, and portable alternative for acute stroke imaging, potentially expanding access in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: Low-field MRI, acute stroke, diagnostic imaging, ischemia, emergency radiology