This protocol may include an optional, non contrast enhanced head scan andor an optoi na lhead ct angoi gram. Patients with ct perfusion also may be exposed to higher doses of radiation. Ct perfusion ctp expands the role of ct in the evaluation of acute stroke by providing physiologic insights into cerebral hemodynamics, and in so doing complements the strengths of ct angiography cta by determining the consequences of vessel occlusions and stenoses fig. All abnormalities seen on perfusion ct are not specifically related to acute infarct. Matched perfusion abnormalities on cbv and mtt maps correspond to areas of nonsalvageable brain tissue and neuronal death, also known as core infarct figs. A singlecenter, prospective study was performed in patients with acute ischemic stroke n 37. Clinical and imaging selection criteria are used to assess candidates for. Ctp is an approximately 1min dynamic acquisition of a contrast bolus passing through the brain. Five anesthetized swine were imaged by using carm cbct and conventional ct. Acrasnrspr practice parameter for the performance of. Rightclick and drag left and right to scroll temporally and drag forward and back to scroll spatially to locate the earliest enhancing artery.
Ct myocardial perfusion imaging is rapidly becoming an important adjunct to coronary ct angiography for the anatomic and functional assessment of coronary artery disease with a single modality. May 24, 2019 introductionrecent advances in medical and endovascular therapy have revolutionized stroke care. This acquisition is summarized on ct perfusion maps that show different characteristics such as the timing of the bolus arrival and passage tmax and mtt, cerebral blood flow cbf, and cerebral blood volume cbv. Computed tomography perfusion imaging may be considered medically necessary to select patients with anterior largevessel stroke for mechanical embolectomy within 24 hours of symptom onset. Ct scan computed tomography cat scan centers and services. Background and purpose ct perfusion ctp might support decision making in patients with acute ischemic stroke by providing perfusion maps of ischemic tissue. The acute stroke protocol employed at our institution has three components. Jun 15, 20 the ct perfusion ctp imaging of brain has been established as a clinically useful tool in multimodality imaging of acute stroke. The changes in perfusion that occur in acute stroke are driven fundamentally by global andor regional changes in cerebral perfusion pressure cpp. The purpose of this study was to determine the appropriate order of ct angiography and ct perfusion in a multimodal stroke ct protocol.
Stroke was suspected and the patient underwent a brain ct with an optimized stroke protocol consisting of an unenhanced ct, perfusion ct, and a ct angiography. Ctp scanning protocol ctp is an approximately 1min dynamic acquisition of a contrast bolus passing through the brain. Acute stroke brain and carotids multiphase elvo brain helical adult brain venogram cta carotid and brain. Ct technical protocol for acute stroke imaging technique parameter nonenhanced ct perfusion ct ct angiography mode axial scanning cine imaging helical scanning gantry angle orbital view orbital view 0 section thickness mm 5 5 0.
The diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke is made on perfusion ct by identifying areas of decreased cbf and cbv, and increased mtt and ttp. This is useful when assessing a patient for treatment. Edit artery and vein position 12 right click and select roi. Intravenous desmoteplase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke selected by mri perfusiondiffusion weighted imaging or perfusion ct dias2. Ct perfusion in the management of acute stroke article pdf available in the canadian journal of neurological sciences. Ct perfusion physics and its application in neuroimaging. The technical success of acute ct protocols requires organizing ct technologists to do efficient cta and ctp postprocessing. The evaluation of a patient suspected of having an acute cerebrovascular accident is initiated with computed tomography ct and computed tomography angiogram cta crosssectional imaging of the head. It enables differentiation of salvageable ischemic brain tissue the penumbra from the irrevocably damaged infarcted brain the infarct core. Ct perfusion in ischemic stroke radiology reference article.
We developed a cerebral ctp protocol for carm cbct and evaluated it in an animal study. Review mtt for asymmetric perfusion defect delayed area may mean infarct or tissue at risk 2. Computed tomography ct perfusion imaging shows which areas of the brain are adequately supplied or perfused with blood and provides detailed information on delivery of blood or blood flow to the brain. Reimbursement rates outpatient keys for investment success noncontrast ct vs. Apr 26, 2019 stroke imaging time decreased from an average of 158 minutes to 81 minutes 49% by substituting ct perfusion for mri. Here we discuss the technique of ct perfusion imaging, how to interpret the data and how it can contribute to the diagnosis of acute stroke and selection of patients for treatment. Role of ct perfusion in acute stroke management sciencedirect. The advantages of perfusion ct include its widespread availability, speed of image acquisition, relative lower cost compared with mri, and ease of patient monitoring 1, 2. Acute ischemic stroke is a disorder of blood flow to the brain. Stroke imaging time decreased from an average of 158 minutes to 81 minutes 49% by substituting ct perfusion for mri.
Cerebral ct perfusion using an interventional carm imaging. Automated ct perfusion ctp has become an essential decisionmaking tool for thrombectomy vs medical care in acute ischemic stroke, because it can identify those outside the 4. Delay in diagnosis and treatment translates into increase neuronal loss and thereby increased morbidity. Most pct protocols acquire images for a total period of 75 to 90 seconds to. Stroke versus seizure perfusion computerized tomography. The ct scanner is typically a large, donutshaped machine with a short tunnel in the center. You will lie on a narrow examination table that slides in and out of this short tunnel. Currently, the reliability of ctp is hampered by varying results between different postprocessing software packages. When ct perfusion imagingis not covered ct perfusion imaging of the brain is considered investigational for all other indications. If used for stroke imaging, a formalized stroke protocol and support. Acute stroke in a 65yearold man with left hemiparesis.
Volume helical shuttle ct perfusion identifies stroke patients. Ct perfusion maps of cerebral blood volume a, cerebral blood flow b, and mean transit time c show mismatched abnormalities arrows that imply the presence of a penumbra. Here we discuss the technique of ct perfusion imaging, how to. Although studies show that the iv administration of a. Center the table height, such that the external auditory meatus is located at the center of the gantry and the landmarked. Low dose ct perfusion in acute ischemic stroke springerlink. Carms rotate slower than clinical ct scanners, making ctp challenging.
Ct perfusion images can be rapidly obtained on all modern ct scanners and easily incorporated into an acute stroke imaging protocol. The cerebral vasculature responds to small reductions in cpp by. The imaging protocol of the study included a mandatory admission ct examination, an optional admission mri examination, and. At the time of this practice parameter revision, there is little data supporting the role of ct perfusion in pediatric stroke 51,52. Unenhanced ct remains the mainstay of imaging evaluation for the acute stroke patient. The complete ct protocol, which includes nonenhanced ct, perfusion ct, and ct angiography, can be performed as a single examination with separate contrast material boluses.
It may be reasonable to use ct brain perfusion imaging in individual patients under. Invoking the mantra that time is brain, the ideal imaging study in the triage of patients presenting with symptoms of acute ischemic stroke would be. The purpose of this study is to compare ischemic core volumes estimated by intellispace portal isp and syngo. Safety and feasibility of a ct protocol for acute stroke. Ct protocol for acute stroke rsna publications online. This article provides information regarding strokes and ct perfusion techniques, including data acquisition, postprocessing, and interpretation. As ct perfusion ctp is being assimilated in realworld clinical practice, it is essential. Perfusion imaging uses an intravascular tracer and serial imaging to quantify blood flow through the brain parenchyma. Ct perfusion in ischemic stroke radiology reference. There are many neurologic diseases causing symptoms simulating cerebrovascular disease produce an alteration of brain perfusion and thus can result in perfusion ct abnormalities. Protocol variation analysis of whole brain ct perfusion in. Utilizing ct perfusion in lieu of mri in the hyperacute stroke protocol may expedite intraarterial intervention. This is a specialized ct of the brain used to evaluate blood flow to the parenchyma of the brain in the setting of suspected ischemia and stroke. Eligible patients may subsequently receive magnetic resonance imaging mri utilizing a hyperacute stroke protocol.
The centers protocol involves acquiring vhs ct perfusion sections, with postprocessing reconstruction to. The purpose of this investigation is to determine if ct perfusion ctp measurements at low doses ld 20 or 50 mas are similar to those obtained at regular doses rd 100 mas, with and without the addition of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction asir. Ct perfusion scanning is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. Many patients with acute stroke are excluded from reperfusion. Evaluation of timedependent pathways in an acute ischemic stroke protocol that incorporates ct perfusion. A protocol for the imaging of acute stroke should address the central questions necessary to triage patients appropriately table 5. Avoid including coils or aneurysm clips in the roi. The examination is frequently completed and analyzed within 15 minutes in a real clinical setting using newgeneration multidetector ct scanners. Check noncontrast ct look for acute hematoma or large obvious infarct. By combining noncontrastenhanced ct imaging, ct perfusion imaging, and cranialtochest ct angiography cta, the entire cerebrovascular axis can be imaged during acute stroke. Dynamic ct perfusion imaging safely detects tissue at risk in cases of acute stroke and is a feasible method for any clinic with a thirdgeneration ct scanner. Computed tomography ct perfusion is a technique used in neuroradiology to assess tissuelevel perfusion and. Ct perfusion in acute ischemic stroke apc group title 2012 final rate 20 final rate percent change. The ct perfusion ctp imaging of brain has been established as a clinically useful tool in multimodality imaging of acute stroke.
Ct perfusion using rapid software for stroke youtube. Summit on ct dose mgh single slab perfusion protocol perfusion single slab, cine 80 kvp 200 ma, 1 second rotation, 8 x 5 mm slices phase i cine. Failed ct perfusion effort in 2008 due to inadequate software vitrea and lack of internal control data. Forty patients with clinical suspicion of an acute cerebral. Review of perfusion imaging in acute ischemic stroke stroke. Ct perfusion in ischemic stroke has become established in most centers with stroke services as an important adjunct, along with ct angiography cta, to conventional unenhanced ct brain imaging it enables differentiation of salvageable ischemic brain tissue the penumbra from the irrevocably damaged infarcted brain the infarct core.
Radiologic technologists who work in computed tomography ct must know how to perform ct perfusion and understand stroke diagnosis. Rotating around you, the xray tube and electronic xray detectors are located opposite each other in a ring, called a. To our knowledge, the safety and feasibility of this technique have not been previously reported. Protocol variation analysis of whole brain ct perfusion in acute ischemic stroke by peter t. Acute ct stroke protocols for our team, noncontrast ct, cta arch to vertex, ctp, and postcontrast ct pcct need 2 minutes of scanning, little more than the time for noncontrast ct alone. Perfusion ct delineates the ischemic tissue penumbra by showing increased mean transit time with decreased cerebral blood flow cbf and normal or. This is done through a largebore iv, usually in the antecubital fossa. In addition, the commonly used threshold of a t max greater than 6 seconds in stroke mr imaging to define the acute perfusion lesion is identical to that seen with our svd uncorrected method for perfusion ct but is much greater than the delay time greater than 2 seconds for the acute perfusion lesion with svd with delay correction. Restart of ct perfusion in 2018 with fda approved r. Comparison of three commonly used ct perfusion software. Ct perfusion protocol for acute stroke expedites mechanical.
Interpreting ct perfusion in stroke practical neurology. Automated ct perfusion imaging for acute ischemic stroke neurology. Perfusion ct protocol a typical perfusion ct protocol consists of a baseline acquisition without contrast enhancement, followed by a dynamic acquisition performed sequentially after intravenous injection of cm the dynamic image acquisition includes a firstpass study, a delayed study, or both, depending on the pertinent physiologic. Cerebral ct perfusion using an interventional carm. Because ct perfusion protocols are not standardized, these hospitals are now faced with the question of how to acquire, process, and interpret ct perfusion imaging. Ct perfusion in ischemic stroke has become established in most centers with stroke services as an important adjunct, along with ct angiography cta, to conventional unenhanced ct brain imaging. Introductionrecent advances in medical and endovascular therapy have revolutionized stroke care. Rapid automated ct perfusion in clinical practice practical. Pdf order of ct stroke protocol cta before or after ctp. Practice parameter ct perfusion at the time of this practice parameter revision, there is little data supporting the role of ct perfusion in pediatric stroke 51,52. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques 404.
Cureus ct perfusion protocol for acute stroke expedites. Ct perfusion imaging in acute stroke radiology key. This acquisition is summarized on ct perfusion maps that show di. Unenhanced ct showed no abnormalities, apart from already known and unchanged chronic hypodense gliotic changes in the left temporoinsular region figure 1. Intravenous thrombolysis ivt with tissue plasminogen activator tpa was shown to be effective for acute ischemic stroke ais within 3 hours of symptom onset in 1995. Existing techniques for ct myocardial perfusion imaging include static techniques, which provide a snapshot of the myocardial blood pool, and dynamic. In a consecutive series of 53 patients with suspected acute stroke, renal failure was not observed. In acute ischemic stroke, perfusion imaging may increase diagnostic accuracy, aid treatment target identification, and provide prognostic information about functional outcome. Perfusionct assessment of infarct core and penumbra.