Lesion volume, lesion location, and outcome after middle cerebral artery territory stroke

Aim-To investigate the relation between lesion volume, lesion location, and clinical outcome in children with infarction in the territory of the middl e cerebral artery (MCA). Patients and methods-Children with MCA territory infarcts were selected ret rospectively from a database of children with ischaemic stroke. Lesion volu mes were expressed as a percentage of the supratentorial intracranial volum e and were categorised as "small", "moderate", or "large". Lesion location was categorised as cortical or purely subcortical. Outcome was ascertained by parental questionnaire and was categorised as "good" or "poor". Results-38 patients were identified (median age 6 years); 21 patients had l esions that involved cortical tissue. Outcome was good in 12 cases and poor in 26 cases (including 2 children who died). Although there was no signifi cant effect of lesion size or lesion location on outcome for the group as a whole, all children who had infarcted more than 10% of intracranial volume had a poor outcome. Of note, some children with small subcortical lesions had pronounced residual deficits. Conclusions-Although the outcome after a small infarct in the MCA territory is variable and unpredictable, infarction of more than 10% of intracranial volume is universally associated with a poor outcome. Characterisation of lesion volume and topography might be helpful in identification of such chi ldren for participation in future trials of treatments for acute stroke.