Sensitivity of 3D gradient recalled echo susceptibility-weighted imaging technique compared to computed tomography angiography for detection of middle cerebral artery thrombus in acute stroke

We aimed at comparing the sensitivity of magnetic resonance (MR) susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) with computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the detection of middle cerebral artery (MCA) thrombus in acute stroke. Seventy-nine patients with acute MCA stroke was selected using our search engine software; only the ones showing restricted diffusion in the MCA territory on diffusion-weighted images were included. We finally selected 35 patients who had done both MRI (including SWI) and CTA. Twenty random subjects with completely normal MRI (including SWI) exam were selected as control. Two neuroradiologists (blinded to the presence or absence of stroke) reviewed the SW images and then compared the findings with CT angiogram (in patients with stroke). The number of MCA segments showing thrombus in each patient was tabulated to estimate the thrombus burden. Thrombus was detected on SWI in one or more MCA segments in 30 out of 35 patients, on the first review. Of the 30, SWI showed thrombus in more than one MCA segments in 7 patients. CTA depicted branch occlusion in 31 cases. Thrombus was seen on both SWI and CTA in 28 patients. Thrombus was noted in two patients on SWI only, with no corresponding abnormality seen on CTA. Two patients with acute MCA showed no vascular occlusion or thrombus on either CTA or SWI. Only two case of false-positive thrombus was reported in normal control subjects. Susceptibility-weighted images had sensitivity and specificity of 86% and 90% respectively, with positive predictive value 94%. Sensitivity was 86% for SWI, compared with 89% for CTA, and this difference was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Of all the positive cases on CTA (31) corresponding thrombus was seen on SWI in 90% of subjects (28 of 31). Susceptibility-weighted imaging has high sensitivity for detection of thrombus in acute MCA stroke. Moreover, SWI is a powerful technique for estimation of thrombus burden, which can be challenging on CTA.

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Serial Quantitative Computed Tomography Perfusion in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien des Sciences Neurologiques ◽

10.1017/cjn.2015.351 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 375-380 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Cheemun Lum ◽

Matthew J. Hogan ◽

John Sinclair ◽

Shane English ◽

Howard Lesiuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Transit Time ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Computed Tomography Angiography ◽

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽

Mean Transit Time ◽

Arterial Diameter ◽

Computed Tomography Perfusion

AbstractPurpose: Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) has been performed to predict which patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage are at risk of developing delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). Patients with severe arterial narrowing may have significant reduction in perfusion. However, many patients have less severe arterial narrowing. There is a paucity of literature evaluating perfusion changes which occur with mild to moderate narrowing. The purpose of our study was to investigate serial whole-brain CTP/computed tomography angiography in aneurysm-related subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients with mild to moderate angiographic narrowing. Methods: We retrospectively studied 18 aSAH patients who had baseline and follow-up whole-brain CTP/computed tomography angiography. Thirty-one regions of interest/hemisphere at six levels were grouped by vascular territory. Arterial diameters were measured at the circle of Willis. The correlation between arterial diameter and change in CTP values, change in CTP in with and without DCI, and response to intra-arterial vasodilator therapy in DCI patients was evaluated. Results: There was correlation among the overall average cerebral blood flow (CBF; R=0.49, p<0.04), mean transit time (R=–0.48, p=0.04), and angiographic narrowing. In individual arterial territories, there was correlation between changes in CBF and arterial diameter in the middle cerebral artery (R=0.53, p=0.03), posterior cerebral artery (R=0.5, p=0.03), and anterior cerebral artery (R=0.54, p=0.02) territories. Prolonged mean transit time was correlated with arterial diameter narrowing in the middle cerebral artery territory (R=0.52, p=0.03). Patients with DCI tended to have serial worsening of CBF compared with those without DCI (p=0.055). Conclusions: Our preliminary study demonstrates there is a correlation between mild to moderate angiographic narrowing and serial changes in perfusion in patients with aSAH. Patients developing DCI tended to have progressively worsening CBF compared with those not developing DCI.

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Anatomic Risk Factors for Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysm Rupture

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0000000000000116 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 73 (5) ◽

pp. 825-837 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Ahmed Elsharkawy ◽

Martin Lehečka ◽

Mika Niemelä ◽

Juri Kivelev ◽

Romain Billon-Grand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Computed Tomography ◽

Middle Cerebral Artery ◽

Cerebral Artery ◽

Computed Tomography Angiography ◽

Artery Aneurysm ◽

University Hospital ◽

Width Ratio ◽

Aneurysm Wall ◽

Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms

Abstract BACKGROUND: The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the most frequent location for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Controversy remains as to which unruptured MCA aneurysms should be treated prophylactically. OBJECTIVE: To identify independent topographical and morphological variables that could predict increased rupture risk of MCA aneurysms. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of computed tomography angiography data of 1009 consecutive patients with 1309 MCA aneurysms, referred between 2000 and 2009 to Helsinki University Hospital, was carried out. Morphological and topographical parameters examined for MCA aneurysms comprised aneurysm wall regularity, size, neck width, aspect ratio, bottleneck factor, height-width ratio, location along the MCA, side, distance from the internal carotid artery bifurcation, and dome projection in axial and coronal computed tomography angiography views. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent risk factors for rupture. RESULTS: Of the 1309 MCA aneurysms, 69% were unruptured and 31% were ruptured. Most unruptured MCA aneurysms were smaller than 7 mm (78%), with a smooth wall (80%) and a height-width ratio of 1 (47%) and were located at the main bifurcation (57%). Ruptured MCA aneurysms, mostly 7 to 14 mm in size (55%), had an irregular wall (78%) and a height-width ratio greater than 1 (72%) and were located at the main bifurcation (77%). Thirty-eight percent of MCA bifurcation aneurysms, 74% of large aneurysms, 64% of aneurysms with an irregular wall, and 49% of aneurysms with a height-width ratio greater than 1 were ruptured. CONCLUSION: Location at the main MCA bifurcation, wall irregularity, and less spherical geometry were independently associated with rupture of MCA aneurysms with a correlation with aneurysm size.

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