Increasing use of computed tomographic perfusion and computed tomographic angiograms in acute ischemic stroke from...

Our objective was to study nationwide utilization trends of computed tomographic (CT) angiogram (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP) in acute ischemic stroke and particularly in the context of use of reperfusion therapies.

We reviewed the Premier Perspective Database for ischemic stroke-related hospitalizations of adult patients during a 5-year period, 2006 to 2010. Use of multimodal CT-based imaging and reperfusion therapies was determined through the procedure and billing codes. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of utilization of imaging studies and reperfusion treatments.

An increasing proportion of ischemic strokes received CTA each year: 3.8% in 2006, 5.6% in 2007, 6.5% in 2008, 7.5% in 2009, and 9.1% in 2010 (P<0.0001). The proportion of acute strokes that were imaged with CTP imaging also increased each year: 0.05% in 2006, 0.05% in 2007, 0.9% in 2008, 2.2% in 2009, and 2.9% in 2010 (P<0.0001). Reperfusion treatment was more common among those who were imaged with CTA (13.0%) and CTP (17.6%) compared with those with CT head alone (4.0%; P<0.0001). Specifically, higher rates of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator were observed in CTA (10.2%) and CTP (11.4%) compared with those with CT head alone (3.8%; P<0.0001). Similarly, higher rates of mechanical embolectomy were observed in CTA (2.8%) and CTP (6.3%) compared with those with CT head alone (0.2%; P<0.0001).

There was a marked increase in the rate of CTA and CTP studies in setting of acute ischemic stroke from 2006 to 2010, and both modalities were associated with increased reperfusion therapy use.