Comparison of clinical and neuroradiological findings in first-ever stroke: A population-based study

Abstract

Background and Purpose To determine how a recently proposed clinical stroke subclassification corresponds to specific findings on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain. Methods Two hundred twenty-eight patients with first-ever stroke were divided into four clinical subgroups:(1) total anterior circulation syndrome:both cortical and subcortical symptoms from anterior and middle cerebral artery territory; (2) partial anterior circulation syndrome:more restricted and predominantly cortical symptoms from the same arterial territories;(3) lacunar syndrome;and (4) posterior circulation syndrome:vertebrobasilar or posterior cerebral artery symptoms. The imaging protocol included CT of the brain on day 0 through 15 and a second CT and an MRIof the brain on day 16 through 180 after acute stroke onset. Results There were 200 patients with cerebral infarction and 28 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Intracerebral hemorrhage was found in 19% of patients with total anterior circulation syndrome and in no patients with lacunar syndrome (X2test; P