Thrombus imaging in acute stroke: correlation of thrombus length on susceptibility-weighted imaging with endovascular reperfusion success

• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-014-3200-3
• Publication Date: 2014-05-15T21:44:25Z
• Authors: Christian Weissta...; Pascal P. Gratz; Gerhard Schroth; Rajeev K. Verma; Arnold Köchl; Simon Jung; Marcel Arnold; Jan Gralla; Christoph Zubler; Kety Hsieh; Pasquale Mordasini; Marwan El-Koussy
• Keywords: Susceptibility Weighted Imaging; Digital subtraction angiography; Magnetic resonance angiography; Stroke

Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) enables visualization of thrombotic material in acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to validate the accuracy thrombus depiction on SWI compared time-of-flight MRA (TOF-MRA), first-pass gadolinium-enhanced (GE-MRA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Furthermore, we analysed impact length reperfusion success with endovascular therapy.Consecutive patients stroke due middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusions undergoing recanalization were screened. Only a pretreatment included. Thrombus visibility location those TOF-MRA, GE-MRA DSA. The association between was studied.Eighty-four 88 included (95.5%) showed an MCA SWI. Strong correlations that TOF-MRA (Pearson's correlation coefficient 0.918, P < 0.001), (0.887, 0.001) DSA (0.841, observed. Successful not significantly related (P = 0.153; binary logistic regression).In occlusion as seen correlates well angiographic findings. In contrast intravenous thrombolysis, appears have no therapy.• helps assessing thrombi • SWI, are equivalent detecting site is superior identifying distal end Stent retrievers should be deployed over did affect guided by