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CT scan in the investigation of stroke

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

CT's are attractive on account of their simplicity to perform, rapidity, largely non-invasive nature, low cost and ability to distinguish ischaemia and haemorrhage.

Disadvantages in the assessment of ischaemic stroke:

  • the full extent of infarcted tissue cannot be defined until several days afterwards
  • CT scans are best done promptly, preferably within 48 hrs of, and no later than 7 days after, the onset of symptoms (1)
  • there may be a period of isodensity at day 3
  • repeat scans are essential to determine prognosis
  • visualisation may be assisted using contrast media but at the increased complexity and risk
  • the brainstem structures are poorly displayed because of bony artifacts

Disadvantage in the assessment of haemorrhage:

  • difficult to distinguish primary cerebral haemorrhage from confluent haemorrhagic infarction

Reference:

  • 1. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1998; 36 (7): 51-6.

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