CT Imaging Computed Tomography/Computed Tomography Angiography/Perfusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Vasospasm

Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2024 May;34(2):175-189. doi: 10.1016/j.nic.2024.01.004. Epub 2024 Feb 29.

Abstract

Computed tomography (CT), CT angiography (CTA), and CT perfusion (CTP) play crucial roles in the comprehensive evaluation and management of acute ischemic stroke, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and vasospasm. CTP provides functional data about cerebral blood flow, allowing radiologists, neurointerventionalists, and stroke neurologists to more accurately delineate the volume of core infarct and ischemic penumbra allowing for patient-specific treatment decisions to be made. CTA and CTP are used in tandem to evaluate for vasospasm associated with aneurysmal SAH and can help provide an insight into the physiologic impact of angiographic vasospasm, better triaging patients for medical and interventional treatment.

Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Angiographic vasospasm; CT angiography; CT perfusion; Hemorrhagic stroke.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Brain Ischemia* / complications
  • Brain Ischemia* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Angiography / methods
  • Computed Tomography Angiography / methods
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke*
  • Perfusion
  • Stroke* / complications
  • Stroke* / diagnostic imaging
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / complications
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial* / complications
  • Vasospasm, Intracranial* / etiology