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The Impact of Neuroimaging on Acute Stroke Treatment: Role of Computed Tomography

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Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Stroke

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Abstract

Computed tomography (CT) was the first modality to image the brain and its pathology in vivo, is now widely available, and plays a key role in current guidelines for thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients. By detecting arterial thrombi and ischemic brain edema and by excluding primary brain hemorrhage, non-enhanced CT identifies patients who may benefit from thrombolysis. The detection of arterial thrombus allows an estimate of ischemic territory. The assessment ischemic edema allows the prediction of brain tissue volume with irreversible injury. The combination with CT angiography (CTA) will add information about concomitant arterial disease, e.g. extracranial obstruction, and collateral blood flow supplying the territory beyond arterial occlusion. The imaging of brain perfusion parameter by CT perfusion imaging (CTP) may add further information, but is not yet established. This chapter will focus mainly on the impact of non-enhanced CT on ischemic stroke management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, Dresden, 01307, Germany

    Rüdiger von Kummer M.D.

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  1. Rüdiger von Kummer M.D.
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Correspondence to Rüdiger von Kummer M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Stroke Program, Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA

    Patrick D Lyden

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von Kummer, R. (2015). The Impact of Neuroimaging on Acute Stroke Treatment: Role of Computed Tomography. In: Lyden, P. (eds) Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Stroke. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07575-4_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07575-4_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-07575-4

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