title: The emerging age of endovascular treatment of acute ischaemic stroke and the role of CT angiography in patient work-up: a guide for the radiologist.
abstract: Recent trial evidence suggests that for patients suffering large-vessel occlusive stroke, endovascular therapy based on the stent-retriever technique is associated with superior clinical outcomes when compared to intravenous thrombolysis alone. The challenge now is how this service is to be delivered. This may involve both centralisation of services around large cities and development of robust networks to receive patients from district general hospitals situated further afield. Both diagnostic and interventional neuroradiology will need to expand. Furthermore, we suggest that it would be advantageous for radiology departments in those hospitals receiving hyperacute stroke patients to perform computed tomography (CT) angiography in addition to non-contrast CT, which also has implications for service delivery in these units. This could swiftly aid identification of patients who might benefit from thrombectomy and improve decision-making through demonstration of occlusive thrombus and of collateral status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (Neuroradiology Section), Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Loughborough
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (Neuroradiology Section), Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mahady
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (Neuroradiology Section), Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (Neuroradiology Section), Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Renowden
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (Neuroradiology Section), Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol, UK. Electronic address: alex_mortimer@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mortimer
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D003287:Contrast Media; D003657:Decision Making; D057510:Endovascular Procedures; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy*; D017131:Thrombectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media