title: Detection of thrombus in acute ischemic stroke: value of thin-section noncontrast-computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies on the hyperdense middle cerebral artery (MCA) sign were conducted using > or =5-mm thickness noncontrast-computed tomography (NCT). The purpose of this study was to compare thin-section NCT with 5-mm NCT in the detection of thrombus in acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled were consecutive 51 patients with acute infarction in the anterior or MCA territory. All patients underwent both 5-mm NCT and either 1.25- or 1-mm thin-section helical NCT within 6 hours of symptom onset. Patients were assigned to either the single or multisegmental occlusion group, depending on the thrombus extent on thin-section NCT. Thin-section NCT and 5-mm NCT were compared in the detection of thrombi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thrombi were identified in 45 patients (88%) on thin-section NCT and 16 on 5-mm NCT (31%; P<0.001). No occlusion was seen in 6 patients. Both sensitivity and specificity of thin-section NCT in detection of thrombus were 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute thrombus can be detected with higher sensitivity on thin-section NCT than on 5-mm NCT, and its extent is more accurately determined on thin-section NCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiologic Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eung Yeop
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Jinna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Hoe
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Dong Ik
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*