Role of Neuroimaging in Guiding Treatment Decisions on Endovascular Thrombectomy

Abstract

Six recent randomized controlled trials showed a significant benefit of endovascular therapy on patient outcome in acute ischemic stroke due to anterior cerebral artery occlusion. The positive results of these trials need to be implemented in clinical routine. Suitable patients should be evaluated for thrombectomy reliably and fast. All trials confirmed the role of pretherapeutic neuroimaging as crucial in selecting patients who can benefit from endovascular therapy. However, different approaches have been used, including imaging of the target vascular occlusion, infarct core, arterial collateral supply or the penumbra. In this review we discuss, in the context of the recent trials, the different methods of non-invasive neuroimaging and their role in decision-making for thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke.