Prognostic value of radionuclide angiography in cerebral vascular disease

To ascertain the prognostic value of the radionuclide angiogram in ischemic cerebral vascular disease, we reviewed the results of this study in 2200 patients who underwent this procedure. The arterial phase showed decreased activity in 175 patients studied in detail during the acute phase of their neurologic illnesses. In the 120 patients who proved to have ischemic disease and persisting neurologic signs, two basic patterns appeared during the venous phase: (1) no increased (diminished or equal) perfusion, or (2) increased perfusion. Following the initial incident, the clinical course varied from no change to marked clinical improvement. In the first group with either diminished or equal venous perfusion, the chances against improvement are greater than 6:1. In the latter group the chances for improvement or deterioration are equal.