Comparative sensitivity of computed tomography vs. magnetic resonance imaging for detecting acute posterior fossa infarct.
BACKGROUND
Posterior fossa strokes, particularly those related to basilar occlusion, pose a high risk for progression and poor neurological outcomes. The clinical history and examination are often not adequately sensitive or specific for detection.


OBJECTIVE
Because this population stands to benefit from acute interventions such as intravenous and intra-arterial tissue plasminogen activator, mechanical thrombectomy, and intensive monitoring for neurologic deterioration, this study examined the sensitivity of non-contrast head computed tomography (NCCT) for diagnosing posterior fossa strokes in the emergency department.


METHODS
This study analyzed a prospectively collected database of acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent head NCCT within 30 h of symptom onset and who were subsequently found to have a posterior fossa infarct on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed within 6 h of the NCCT.


RESULTS
There were 67 patients identified who had restricted diffusion on MRI in the posterior fossa. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores ranged from 0 to 36, median 3. Only 28 patients had evidence of infarction on the initial NCCT scan. The timing of NCCT scans ranged from 1.2 to 28.9 h after symptom onset. The sensitivity of NCCT was 41.8% (95% confidence interval 30.1-54.4). The longest period of time between symptom onset and a negative NCCT with a subsequent positive diffusion-weighted imaging MRI was 26.7 h.


CONCLUSIONS
Head NCCT imaging is frequently insensitive for detecting posterior fossa infarction. Temporal evolution of strokes in this distribution, coupled with beam-hardening artifact, may contribute to this limitation. When a posterior fossa stroke is suspected and the NCCT is non-diagnostic, MRI is the preferred imaging modality to exclude posterior fossa infarction.
Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
David Y
DY
Hwang
Gisele S
GS
Silva
Karen L
KL
Furie
David M
DM
Greer
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000592:standards*