title: Multimodal use of computed tomography in early acute stroke, part 1.
abstract: Brain Computed tomography (CT) scan has been used in the past to exclude a hemorrhagic stroke, to determine a possible cause of the stroke patient symptoms, and to demonstrate a stabilized area of hypoperfusional flow. Several results from CT scan studies suggested that we could have new information on prognosis and outcome, localization, and risk of infarction. In this view, CT scan in acute stroke may contribute, using objective measures, to evaluate the inclusion in clinical and therapeutical trials, such as thrombolytic therapy. The lack of consensus among clinicians does not allow a secure and definitive system of CT scan evaluation. Besides its common uses, more recently brain CT scan provides new techniques utilizing advanced algorithms of reconstruction, with promising properties not yet completely verified, to highlight more aspects of acute stroke in the early phase. Despite this limitation, progress on neuroradiological techniques reinforces the concept that brain CT scan remains the key of studies, as well as of validation and routine treatment in terms of feasibility, low cost, and widely availability.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Neurologia e Neuroriabilitazione, Villa Pini d'Abruzzo, Chieti, Italy. n.tambasco@libero.it
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tambasco
authors.forename: Reana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scaroni
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corea
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Silvestrelli
authors.forename: Aroldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bocola
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parnetti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*