title: Imaging in acute stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability in Canada. In the hyperacute stroke setting, the treating physician must make a time critical decision on the treatment of each patient. Recent advances in imaging help the treating physician identify the subgroup of patients eligible for acute treatment of ischaemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review we will discuss Non-Contrast Computed Tomography (NCCT), CT-Angiography (CTA), and CT-Perfusion (CTP) in assessment of patients with acute ischaemic stroke and intracerebral haemorrhage. Intravenous tPA was the only proven therapy for acute ischaemic stroke presenting within 4.5 hours, until the five recent trials proved the efficacy of EVT for acute ischaemic stroke with proximal arterial occlusion. Imaging played a major role in patient selection in all five trials. Expert commentary: The challenge of rapid clinical assessment, review of imaging and timely treatment will continue to be made easier as the development and understanding of imaging progresses.
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: Prasanna
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eswaradass
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: Ramana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Appireddy
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tham
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: Sadanand
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Najm
authors.affiliation: a Calgary Stroke Program, Department of Clinical Neurosciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.|b Department of Radiology , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.|c Department of Community Health Sciences , University of Calgary , Calgary , AB , Canada.|d Hotchkiss Brain Institute , Calgary , AB , Canada.
authors.forename: Bijoy K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Menon
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D018579:Patient Selection; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: CT; angiography; imaging; perfusion; stroke; thrombolysis