Imaging of acute ischemic stroke: Unenhanced computed tomography

Abstract

The speed, widespread availability, low cost, and accuracy in detecting subarachnoid and intracranial hemorrhage have led conventional computed tomography (CT) scanning to become the first-line diagnostic test for the emergency evaluation of acute stroke [1-6]. Head CT scans can detect ischemic brain regions within 6 h of stroke onset (hyperacute). According to reports by Mohr and González, the sensitivity of such early detection is comparable to that of conventional T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [7-12]. For example, based on 68 patients imaged within 4 h of stroke onset, Mohr et al. [11] concluded that CT was equivalent to MRI T2-weighted images in its ability to detect the earliest signs of stroke (Table 3.1, Fig. 3.1-3.5). © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.