Related Experiment Videos
"Computed tomography-negative" intracerebral hemorrhage: case report and implications for management
Andreja S Packard1, Carlos S Kase, Ahmed S Aly
1Department of Neurology, Boston University Medical Center, 715 Albany Street B-605, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
Archives of Neurology
|August 20, 2003
Summary
Computed tomographic (CT) scans may miss some acute intracerebral hemorrhages in stroke patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can detect subtle hemorrhages missed by CT, improving stroke diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Noncontrast computed tomographic (CT) scanning is the primary imaging modality for acute stroke evaluation.
- CT's main role is to exclude intracerebral hemorrhage, particularly for thrombolytic therapy candidates.
Observation:
- A patient presenting with transient ischemic attack symptoms underwent serial CT scans.
- CT scans revealed no evidence of hemorrhage.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) subsequently identified a subacute intracerebral hemorrhage.
Findings:
- This case highlights potential limitations of CT in detecting all intracerebral hemorrhages.
- Gradient echo (susceptibility-weighted) MRI sequences show promise in detecting acute hemorrhage.
Implications:
- Alternative imaging techniques like MRI should be considered in acute stroke evaluation.
- This is crucial for patients eligible for thrombolytic or anticoagulant therapy to minimize risks associated with undetected hemorrhage.
- Further research into advanced MRI sequences for hemorrhage detection is warranted.