On which days post-infarction does maximal cerebral edema typically occur following an ischemic stroke?

Maximal cerebral edema usually occurs between 3 to 7 days post-infarction. Key diagnostic features include worsening neurological deficits and increased intracranial pressure, often visible on CT or MRI as hypodense regions with mass effect. Clinically, it's crucial to monitor for signs of herniation. A common pitfall is mistaking early edema for hemorrhagic transformation, which can be differentiated by imaging characteristics.