Dynamic CT perfusion imaging of acute stroke.
OBJECTIVE
Because cerebral perfusion imaging for acute stroke is unavailable in most hospitals, we investigated the feasibility of a method of perfusion scanning that can be performed rapidly during standard cranial CT. Our aim was to identify the scanning parameters best suited to indicate tissue at risk and to measure a perfusion limit to predict infarction.


METHODS
Seventy patients who had suffered stroke and had undergone cranial CT 0.5 to 12 hours (median, 3.75 hr) after the onset of symptoms participated in the study. While undergoing conventional CT, each patient received a bolus of iodinated contrast medium. Maps of time to peak (TTP), cerebral blood volume (CBV), and CBF were calculated from the resulting dynamically enhanced scans. These perfusion images were compared with follow-up CT scans or MR images showing the final infarctions.


RESULTS
CBF maps predicted the extent of cerebral infarction with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 98%. In contrast, CBV maps were less sensitive and TTP maps were less specific and also showed areas of collateral flow. Infarction occurred in all of the patients with CBF reduction of more than 70% and in half of the patients with CBF reduction of 40% to 70%.


CONCLUSIONS
Dynamic CT perfusion imaging safely detects tissue at risk in cases of acute stroke and is a feasible method for any clinic with a third-generation CT scanner.
Mayer
T E
TE
Department of Neuroradiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Hamann
G F
GF
Baranczyk
J
J
Rosengarten
B
B
Klotz
E
E
Wiesmann
M
M
Missler
U
U
Schulte-Altedorneburg
G
G
Brueckmann
H J
HJ
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001810:Blood Volume; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*