Aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage from a neuroimaging perspective

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) necessitates effective neuroimaging for patient management.
• Accurate and timely diagnosis is crucial for preventing complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and summarize current neuroimaging methods for SAH diagnosis and management.
• To discuss evolving techniques for monitoring complications and assessing long-term sequelae.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of clinical neuroimaging practices for SAH.
• Analysis of noncontrast computed tomography (CT), CT angiography, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA).
• Evaluation of emerging modalities like functional MRI and PET for assessing brain perfusion and function.

Main Results:

• Noncontrast CT is highly sensitive for SAH detection within 6 hours.
• CT angiography is increasingly used for aneurysm diagnosis, with DSA reserved for complex cases.
• Monitoring for delayed cerebral ischemia is shifting towards perfusion-based techniques.
• Functional and physiological imaging techniques show promise but are largely experimental.

Conclusions:

• Neuroimaging plays a vital role in SAH patient care, from initial diagnosis to complication monitoring.
• While established methods are effective, advanced imaging techniques offer potential for real-time physiological and functional assessment.
• Further research is needed to support the clinical integration of novel neuroimaging modalities for SAH.