Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Optimized Management of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke
Published on: January 18, 2018
Free-Breathing, Non-Gated Heart-To-Brain CTA in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Feasibility Study on Dual-Source CT
Jiabin Liu1,2, Chen Wang1, Qing Li1
1Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Free-breathing, non-gated computed tomography arteriography (CTA) is feasible for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke and identifying cardiac causes. This advanced imaging technique effectively visualizes heart anatomy without gating, aiding in stroke etiology screening.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Imaging
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Acute ischemic stroke often requires evaluation for cardiac sources.
- Traditional cardiac imaging may involve gating, increasing scan time and complexity.
- High-pitch computed tomography arteriography (CTA) offers potential for rapid cardiac assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the feasibility of free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA in acute ischemic stroke patients.
- To assess the capability of non-gated heart-to-brain CTA in visualizing cardiac anatomy for stroke etiology screening.
Main Methods:
- Free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA was performed using dual-source CT in 30 acute ischemic stroke patients.
- A control group of 31 patients underwent ECG-triggered heart-to-brain CTA.
- Image quality of cardiac chambers, left atrial appendage, septa, and arteries was quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated and compared.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in image quality was observed between non-gated and ECG-triggered CTA for cardiac chambers and carotid arteries.
- Coronary artery image quality also showed no significant difference between the groups.
- Cardiac abnormalities were successfully visualized in acute ischemic stroke patients using the non-gated technique.
Conclusions:
- Free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA with dual-source CT is feasible for acute ischemic stroke evaluation.
- This method enables effective cardiac etiology screening in stroke patients.
Purpose:
To validate the feasibility of free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain computed tomography arteriography (CTA) in acute ischemic stroke and the capability of non-gated heart-to-brain CTA in showing cardiac anatomy.
Materials And Methods:
The study protocol was approved by the institutional medical ethics review board. Free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA was performed on patients with acute ischemic stroke referred for multimodal CT using a third-generation dual-source CT. Patients scheduled for ECG-triggered heart-to-brain CTA served as controls. Quantitative and/or qualitative image quality of the four cardiac chambers, left atrial appendage, interventricular and interatrial septa, carotid arteries, and coronary arteries were evaluated and compared between the two groups.
Results:
Free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA was performed on 30 patients with acute ischemic stroke, whereas the control group included 31 cases. There is no significant difference in the image quality of CTAs between the two groups at cardiac chambers and carotid arteries. The image quality of coronary arteries also showed no significant difference between the two groups. The mean dose length products of CTA in the two groups were 129.1 ± 30.5 mGy cm and 121.6 ± 30.3 mGy cm, respectively. Cardiac abnormality can be shown in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Conclusion:
It is feasible to use free-breathing, non-gated, high-pitch heart-to-brain CTA with dual-source CT in acute ischemic stroke for cardiac etiology screening.
More Related Videos
06:45Author Spotlight: Integrated Photoacoustic, Ultrasound, and Angiographic Tomography (PAUSAT) for NonInvasive Whole-Brain Imaging of Ischemic Stroke
Published on: June 2, 2023
08:36Multi-Tracer Studies of Brain Oxygen and Glucose Metabolism Using a Time-of-Flight Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography Scanner
Published on: June 7, 2024
