[Early CT changes in acute cerebral infarction].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to evaluate neurological clinical findings and cerebral computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with acute stroke within six hours after stroke onset.


METHODS
42 patients with presumed stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory were clinically assessed with the Scandinavian Stroke Scale Score. CT scans were assessed in a standardized manner by one neuroradiologist.


RESULTS
The clinical deficit did not forecast the CT findings. Patients with several early CT signs of ischaemia, and especially those with hypodensity in less than one third of the middle cerebral artery area had lower clinical scores than patients with fewer signs. Hypodensity in the insular region was the overall most frequent finding.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical findings do not give definite information about the ischaemic damage in the acute phase of cerebral infarction. CT scans may give valuable information primarily when there are positive findings.
Hordnes
J
J
Nevrologisk avdeling, Haukeland Sykehus 5021 Bergen. juda@haukeland.no
Thomassen
L
L
Waje-Andreassen
U
U
Smievoll
A I
AI
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed