Safety and Feasibility of a CT Protocol for Acute Stroke: Combined CT, CT Angiography, and CT Perfusion Imaging in 53 Consecutive Patients

• Published in: American journal of neuroradiology : AJNR Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 688 - 690
• Main Authors: Smith, Wade S, Roberts, Heidi C, Chuang, Nathaniel A, Ong, Kenneth C, Lee, Theodore J, Johnston, S. Claiborne, Dillon, William P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oak Brook, IL Am Soc Neuroradiology 01.04.2003; American Society of Neuroradiology
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Brain - blood supply; Brain - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Angiography; Cerebral Infarction - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Infarction - etiology; Clinical Protocols; Creatinine - blood; Diagnosis, Differential; Feasibility Studies; Female; Humans; Ischemic Attack, Transient - diagnostic imaging; Ischemic Attack, Transient - etiology; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurology; Prognosis; Radiographic Image Enhancement; Regional Blood Flow - physiology; Risk Factors; Tomography, Spiral Computed; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Vascular diseases and vascular malformations of the nervous system; Human; Nervous system diseases; Stroke; Radiodiagnosis; Angiography; Acute; Cardiovascular disease; Cerebral disorder; Vascular disease; Perfusion; Central nervous system disease; Medical imagery; Feasibility; Computerized axial tomography; Safety; Technique; Cerebrovascular disease; Contrast media
• ISSN: 0195-6108; 1936-959X

By combining non-contrast-enhanced CT imaging, CT perfusion imaging, and cranial-to-chest CT angiography (CTA), the entire cerebrovascular axis can be imaged during acute stroke. To our knowledge, the safety and feasibility of this technique have not been previously reported. In a consecutive series of 53 patients with suspected acute stroke, renal failure was not observed. Median imaging time was 27 minutes (range, 9-67 minutes). Image quality was degraded by motion in 1.3% of vessels studied. Dynamic CT perfusion data were successfully obtained in 52 patients (98% of patients). High-speed, multisection, helical CT scanners allow rapid, safe imaging of the entire neurovascular axis in patients with acute stroke by use of combined CT imaging, CT perfusion imaging, and CTA.