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Prognostic value of the dense middle cerebral artery sign in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Insights
The dense middle cerebral artery sign on CT scans indicates a poorer outcome for ischemic stroke patients. This finding suggests the sign is a valuable prognostic tool in acute stroke care.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of disability.
- Accurate prognostication is crucial for acute stroke management.
- The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is frequently affected in carotid artery territory strokes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prognostic value of the dense middle cerebral artery sign in acute ischemic stroke.
- To determine if the presence of this sign correlates with patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of CT scans from 90 ischemic stroke patients.
- Identification of the dense middle cerebral artery sign on admission CT scans.
- Comparison of outcomes between patients with and without the sign.
Main Results:
- The dense middle cerebral artery sign was present in 14 out of 90 patients.
- Patients with the sign had a significantly poorer outcome (Odds Ratio 4.3).
- The sign was associated with worse prognosis in acute ischemic stroke.
Conclusions:
- The dense middle cerebral artery sign is a potentially useful prognostic indicator.
- Early identification of this sign may aid in stroke patient management.
- Further research is warranted to validate its prognostic significance.
Abstract:
The presence of a dense appearance of the horizontal part of the middle cerebral artery (the "dense middle cerebral artery sign") was looked for on CT scans taken on admission in 90 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke in the carotid artery distribution. The outcome of the 14 patients with the sign was poorer than that of 76 patients without the sign (Odds ratio 4.3). We suggest that this sign could be a useful prognostic variable in the acute phase of an ischemic stroke.