Added Value of Stroke Protocol MRi Following Negative Initial CT in the Acute Stroke Setting
Gargan, M.L.; Kok, H.K.; Kearney, J.; Collins, R.; Coughlan, T.; O'Neill, D.; Ryan, D.; Torreggiani, W.; Doody, O.
Irish Medical Journal 108(10): 302-304
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0332-3102 PMID: 26817286 Document Number: 681434
The aim of the study was to determine the added value of stroke protocol MRI following negative initial CT brain in the acute stroke setting. A retrospective study was performed over a 6 month period in a tertiary referral stroke centre. Patients were selected from the stroke and radiology databases. Inclusion criteria: clinical stroke syndrome, negative initial CT with subsequent MRI study with diffusion weighted sequences. Ninety two patients were reviewed and 73 (M:F of 39:34, mean age 62.1 ± 14.0 years) met the inclusion criteria. Twenty MRI studies (27.4%) were positive for acute/subacute ischaemia in the setting of a normal initial CT. The average time interval between initial CT and MRI brain imaging was 4.7 ± 2.6 days. Whilst CT continues to be the first line imaging investigation for acute stroke, MRI has substantial added value following negative initial CT in the diagnosis of stroke.