title: Early CT finding in cerebral infarction: obscuration of the lentiform nucleus.
abstract: Early computed tomographic (CT) findings (scans obtained within 6 hours of the onset of stroke) were retrospectively analyzed in 25 patients with embolic cerebral infarction of the middle cerebral artery or internal carotid artery distribution, including the lentiform nucleus, diagnosed on the basis of findings at sequential CT. CT scans were analyzed for the following: (a) an obscured outline or partial disappearance of the lentiform nucleus, (b) a slight decrease in tissue density, or (c) effacement of the cortical sulci. One or more of these findings was recognized in 23 of 25 patients (92%). The first finding was noted most frequently, and it appeared earliest. Obscuration of the lentiform nucleus was thought to be an important early sign of cerebral infarction, including the lentiform nucleus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels, Akita, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tomura
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inugami
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujita
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shishido
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed