Hypodensity of >1/3 middle cerebral artery territory versus Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score (ASPECTS): comparison of two methods of quantitative evaluation of early CT changes in hyperacute ischemic stroke in the community setting.
BACKGROUND
The one third middle cerebral artery territory ((1/3) MCA) method and the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) were used to detect significant early ischemic changes (EIC) on CT brain of acute stroke patients. We sought to compare the reliability of the 2 methods in routine clinical practice.


METHODS
Eighty consecutive patients admitted to a community hospital in Hong Kong with suspected acute ischemic stroke and a CT brain scan performed within 6 hours of symptom onset were included. Five blinded observers (1 neurologist, 2 general radiologists, and 2 neuroradiologists) independently evaluated the scans, using the ATLANTIS/CT Summit criteria for >(1/3) MCA involvement, and ASPECTS <or=7. Kappa statistics were used to determine interobserver agreement.


RESULTS
Significant EIC were present in 11.4% of the scans with the (1/3) MCA method, and 19.4% with ASPECTS. For >(1/3) MCA involvement, all observers agreed in 57 cases (71%), with moderate interobserver agreement (kappa=0.49). For ASPECTS <or=7, all observers agreed in 34 cases (42%), with fair interobserver agreement (kappa=0.34). After prevalence and bias adjustments, substantial (prevalence-adjusted bias-adjusted kappa [PABAK]=0.74) and moderate (PABAK=0.44) agreements were found for the (1/3) MCA method and ASPECTS respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The (1/3) MCA method was more reliable in detecting significant EIC on CT brain within 6 hours of stroke onset in routine clinical practice, whereas ASPECTS was able to detect significant EIC in a higher proportion of these early scans.
Mak
Henry K F
HK
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yan Chai Hospital, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China. kfmakhk@netvigator.com
Yau
Kelvin K W
KK
Khong
Pek-Lan
PL
Ching
Alex S C
AS
Cheng
Pui-Wai
PW
Au-Yeung
Paul K M
PK
Pang
Peter K M
PK
Wong
Kenny C W
KC
Chan
Bernard P L
BP
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors