CT scans can identify cause of some strokes: Study
November 9th, 2010 - 4:47 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Nov 9 (ANI): Multidetector computed tomography (CT) helps pinpoint the causes of ischemic strokes, the most common type of stroke, according to a new study.
An ischemic stroke occurs when blockage in an artery, often from a blood clot or a fatty deposit due to atherosclerosis, interrupts blood flow to an area of the brain.
Loic Boussel and colleagues analyzed the potential of multidetector CT - they compared a single-session multidetector CT examination of the heart, neck and brain vessels with established imaging methods in 46 patients who had recently experienced an ischemic stroke.
Multidetector CT detected cardiac sources of stroke in 18 of 25 cases, for a sensitivity of 72 percent. The technique’s sensitivity increased to 100 percent for detection of major arterial atherosclerosis.
“Moreover, because it is quick, the exam is well tolerated, which is critical in acute stroke patients who may be unstable and agitated,” Boussel said.
The CT protocol has two main limitations - it exposes the patient to a significant radiation dose and requires two intravenous contrast material injections to study the chest and neck areas.
Boussel said that advances in CT equipment technology could help reduce the radiation dose and the total amount of iodinated contrast material required. He said that advances in CT equipment technology could help reduce the radiation dose and the total amount of iodinated contrast material required.
The study is published online and in the January issue of Radiology. (ANI)
- Head patch can monitor strokes better - Feb 02, 2012
- New device uses submarine technology to detect stroke quickly - Mar 30, 2011
- Ultrasound as effective as CT scans in most cases - May 12, 2011
- Futuristic CT scanners to image organ in less than a second - Jun 03, 2010
- Obese exposed to higher radiation levels - Apr 08, 2012
- New online tool predicts probability of death in patients after stroke - Feb 11, 2011
- Safer CT scanning for kids developed - Apr 05, 2011
- Biomarker can nip hardening of arteries in the bud - Jan 22, 2012
- New technique to identify potential atherosclerosis risk found - Apr 12, 2011
- Tool predicts death probability from stroke - Feb 11, 2011
- Strokes hit smokers earlier than others - Oct 03, 2011
- CT scanner that views whole organs in a heartbeat unveiled - Jun 04, 2010
- PET-CT scans may help predict response to head, neck cancer treatment - Nov 17, 2009
- Clogged arteries can also cause clouded thinking - Jul 22, 2011
- Stroke risk much higher if sibling had stroke - Apr 11, 2012
Tags: acute stroke patients, atherosclerosis, blood clot, blood flow, brain, colleagues, contrast material, ct scans, equipment technology, fatty deposit, heart, intravenous contrast, ischemic stroke, ischemic strokes, multidetector ct, neck areas, protocol, radiation dose