Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility of an integrated ultrafast h ead magnetic resonance (MR) protocol using a sensitivity encoding (SENSE) techni que for depicting parenchymal ischaemia and vascular compromise in patients with suspected recent stroke. Methods: 23 patients were evaluated with the ultrafast MR protocol using T2, T1, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), 3D time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and diffusion weighted imaging ( DWI)- sequences. These were compared with routine conventional MR sequences. Re sults: One patient could not tolerate conventional imaging, although imaging usi ng the three minute head SENSE protocol was diagnostic. Both conventional and ul trafast protocols were of similar diagnostic yield in the remaining patients. Th ere were no significant differences in clinical diagnostic quality for the T1, T 2, FLAIR, and DWI sequences. One MRA examination was of better quality when SENS E was used, owing to reduced motion artefacts and shorter imaging time. Conclusi ons: It is possible to undertake a comprehensive MR examination in stroke patien ts in approximately three to five minutes. Ultrafast imaging may become a useful triage tool before thrombolytic therapy. It may be of particular benefit in pat ients unable to tolerate longer sequences. Further work is necessary to confirm these findings in hyperacute stroke. Objective: To evaluate the technical feasibility of an integrated ultrafast h ead magnetic resonance (MR) protocol using a sensitivity encoding (SENSE) techni que for depicting parenchymal ischaemia and vascular compromise in patients with suspected recent stroke. Methods: 23 patients were evaluated with the Ultrafast MR protocol using T2, T1, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), 3D time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) - sequences. These were compared with routine conventional MR sequences. Re sults: One patient could not tolerate conventional imaging, although imaging usi ng the three minute head SENSE protocol was diagnostic. Both conventional and ul trafast protocols were of similar diagnostic yield in the remaining patients. Th ere were no significant differences in clinical diagnostic quality for the T1, T 2, FLAIR, and DWI sequences. One MRA examination was of better quality when SENS E was used, owing to reduced motion Artefacts and shorter imaging time. Conclusi ons: It is possible to undertake a comprehensive MR examination in stroke patien ts in about three to five minutes. It may be of particular benefit in patients Undetermined to confirm these findings in hyperacute stroke.