Evaluation of early computed tomographic findings in acute ischemic stroke

Background and Purpose-Detection of large, hypoattenualed brain-tissue volu me on hyperacute CT scan has been suggested as an exclusion criterion for e arly intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) treatment. This stud y assessed the reliability of detection for these findings and their relati onship to outcome. Methods-Fifty hyperacute CT scans (<6 hours after ictus) were selected from a randomized trial evaluating IV-tPA (ATLANTIS trial). Three neuroradiolog ists blinded to all clinical information evaluated scans for degree of MCA territory involvement (<33% or >33%) and the presence of a hyperdense MCA. Evaluations were compared with 24-hour scan results, 30-day infarct volumes , and baseline NIH stroke scale scores (NIHSS), Results-Readers reliably evaluated the degree of MCA territory hypodensity (intraclass correlation = 0.53, P < 0.001), with all 3 readers agreeing in 36 of 50 cases (72%). They correctly called >33% involvement with a sensiti vity of 60% to 85% and a specificity of 86% to 97%, The baseline NIHSS was higher when >33% MCA hypodensity was seen (P = 0.021). Detection of signifi cant hypodensity (>33%) correlated with poorer outcome. When >33% hypodensi ty was not detected, mean 30-day infarct volumes were 27.0 to 33.0 cm(3), v ersus 84.3 to 123.1 hypodensity was present (P = 0.002). cm(3) when >33% Conclusions-Detection of MCA territory hypodensity on hyperacute CT scans i s a sensitive, prognostic, and reliable indicator of the amount of MCA terr itory undergoing infarction.