title: Measurement of length of hyperdense MCA sign in acute ischemic stroke predicts disappearance after IV tPA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to assess the hypothesis that length and volumes of middle cerebral artery (MCA) thrombus were associated with disappearance of the hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) in acute ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective cohort study of acute ischemic stroke patients with MCA occlusion admitted to the University Hospital in Canada. The length and volumes of the HMCAS was measured on the plain CT by placing CTA images (CTA source images or MIP images) side-by-side.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six patients with acute stroke having HMCAS on noncontrast CT (NCCT) with M1 MCA occlusion confirmed by CT angiography or digital subtraction angiography and received tPA. The treatments received were: IV tPA 41(53.9%) and endovascular treatment ± IV tPA 35 (46.1%). In the IV tPA group, the rate of disappearance varied depending on the baseline HMCAS length. Short length HMCAS (<10 mm) disappeared in 6/7 (85.7%) (P < .001). Medium length HMCAS (10-20 mm) disappeared in 9/24 (37.5%). No cases of long length HMCAS (>20 mm) disappeared (0/10) (P = .05). Rate of disappearance of HMCAS was found to be volume dependent (P < .002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMCAS length >10 mm infrequently disappears with IV tPA suggesting a potential need for ancillary therapy in this group.
authors: Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors: Nandavar
authors: N
authors: Shobha
authors: Simerpreet
authors: S
authors: Bal
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Boyko
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Kroshus
authors: Bijoy K
authors: BK
authors: Menon
authors: Rohit
authors: R
authors: Bhatia
authors: Sung-Il
authors: SI
authors: Sohn
authors: Gopukumar
authors: G
authors: Kumarpillai
authors: Jayme
authors: J
authors: Kosior
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Hill
authors: Andrew M
authors: AM
authors: Demchuk
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020521:Stroke; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: Hyperdense MCA sign; ischemic stroke; resolution