CT perfusion source images improve identification of early ischaemic change in hyperacute stroke.

CT perfusion scanning produces dynamic contrast-enhanced brain images, but to generate and interpret the colour maps of cerebral perfusion from these source images requires specialist neuroimaging knowledge. We hypothesized that physicians without such training might still utilise the CT perfusion source images (CTPSI) to diagnose early ischaemic change. Fifteen patients had cerebral non-contrast CT (NCCT) and perfusion CT within 6 hours of hemispheric stroke onset.

Perfusion computed tomography: prediction of final infarct extent and stroke outcome.

The Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) has not been previously applied to perfusion CT (CTP). Five raters assigned ASPECTS to baseline noncontrast CT (NCCT), CT angiography source images (CTA-SI), CTP source images (CTP-SI), and CTP maps of cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) from 37 consecutive patients with less than 6-hour anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Major reperfusion was identified on follow-up imaging.