Brain damage due to a stroke. Coloured axial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan (left) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) MRI scan (right) showing damage (bright and blue areas) in the left hemisphere of a 59-year-old man's brain, caused by a stroke (cerebrovascular accident, CVA). The stroke caused hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body, here the right side). A stroke is where the brain is damaged due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen). This is usually due to an interruption or other damage to the blood supply, such as a burst blood vessel or a clot blocking the blood flow to the brain. These images were obtained 3 hours after the stroke. For the same patient 2 days (48 hours) later, see image C047/4855.