<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_raon-2021-0037_s_006">
<h3>Background</h3>
<p>All the patients with suspected stroke are directed to whole-brain CT scan. The purpose of this scan is to look for early features of ischemia and to rule out alternative diagnoses than stroke. In case of ischemic stroke, CT diagnostics (including CT angiography) is used mainly to locate the occlusion and its size, while the Hounsfield Units (HU) values of the thrombus causing the stroke are usually overlooked on CT scan or considered not important. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the HU value is relevant and can help in better treatment planning.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2021-0037_s_007">
<h3>Patients and methods</h3>
<p>There were 25 patients included in the study, diagnosed with ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. In all patients, systemic thrombolysis was not successful and the mechanical recanalization was needed. The retrieved thrombi were also analyzed histologically for the determination of red blood cells (RBC) proportion. CT of the proximal MCA (M1) segment was analyzed for average HU value and its variability both in the occluded section and the symmetrical normal site. These CT parameters were then statistically studied for the possible correlations with different clinical, histological and procedure parameters using the Linear Regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2021-0037_s_008">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Relevant positive correlations were found between average HU value of thrombus and outcome modified Rankin Scale (mRS), initial mRS, number of passes with thrombectomy device as well as RBC proportion.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_raon-2021-0037_s_009">
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>Results of the present study suggest that measured HU values in CT images of the cerebral thrombi may help in the assessment of thrombus compaction and therefore better treatment planning.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Background
All the patients with suspected stroke are directed to whole-brain CT scan. The purpose of this scan is to look for early features of ischemia and to rule out alternative diagnoses than stroke. In case of ischemic stroke, CT diagnostics (including CT angiography) is used mainly to locate the occlusion and its size, while the Hounsfield Units (HU) values of the thrombus causing the stroke are usually overlooked on CT scan or considered not important. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that the HU value is relevant and can help in better treatment planning.


Patients and methods
There were 25 patients included in the study, diagnosed with ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory. In all patients, systemic thrombolysis was not successful and the mechanical recanalization was needed. The retrieved thrombi were also analyzed histologically for the determination of red blood cells (RBC) proportion. CT of the proximal MCA (M1) segment was analyzed for average HU value and its variability both in the occluded section and the symmetrical normal site. These CT parameters were then statistically studied for the possible correlations with different clinical, histological and procedure parameters using the Linear Regression and the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results
Relevant positive correlations were found between average HU value of thrombus and outcome modified Rankin Scale (mRS), initial mRS, number of passes with thrombectomy device as well as RBC proportion.

Conclusions
Results of the present study suggest that measured HU values in CT images of the cerebral thrombi may help in the assessment of thrombus compaction and therefore better treatment planning.

Study of correlations between CT properties of retrieved cerebral thrombi with treatment outcome of stroke patients

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Background
All the patients with suspected stroke are directed to whole-brain CT scan. The purpose of this scan is to look for early features of ischemia and...

Study of correlations between CT properties of retrieved cerebral thrombi with treatment outcome of stroke patients

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Sep 27, 2021

Page range: 409 - 417

Received: Nov 30, 2020

Accepted: Sep 02, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2021-0037

© 2021 Rebeka Viltuznik, Jernej Vidmar, Andrej Fabjan, Miran Jeromel, Zoran V. Milosevic, Igor J. Kocijancic, Igor Sersa, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.