Prevalence and significance of hyperdense middle cerebral artery in acute stroke.

• DOI: 10.1161/01.str.23.3.317
• Publication Date: 2011-06-17T20:08:03Z
• Authors: D Leys; J P Pruvo; O Godefroy; P Rondepierre; X Leclerc
• Keywords: Stroke; Acute stroke

Early noncontrast computed tomographic scans may visualize a hyperdense middle cerebral artery before the infarct becomes visible. This sign disappears within few days, corresponds to clot itself, and might be associated with poor prognosis. The aim of study was determine its prevalence, diagnostic value, relationship demographic data, ability separate embolic from nonembolic causes, short-term prognostic evolution over time, arterial occlusion on angiography.We performed this using 12 hours after onset in 272 consecutive unselected patients first acute cerebrovascular event.Seventy-three subjects had sign, leading prevalence 26.8% whole group 41.2% infarct. Specificity 100%, but sensitivity only 30%. not dependent risk factors, more likely occur cortical large, deep, infarcts (p less than 0.01). It provided 3.5% gain predicting death, one fifth recovered 2 weeks; an independent variable outcome multiple linear regression. spontaneously disappeared days always related who underwent early angiography.The is useful diagnosis does predict