Detection of thrombus in acute ischemic stroke: value of thin-section noncontrast-computed tomography.
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.
Kim
Eung Yeop
EY
Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiologic Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Seung-Koo
SK
Kim
Dong Joon
DJ
Suh
Sang-Hyun
SH
Kim
Jinna
J
Heo
Ji Hoe
JH
Kim
Dong Ik
DI
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*