1. Whitehead MT, Cardenas AM, Corey AS, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Headache. J Am Coll Radiol 2019;16:S364-S77. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for headache. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
2. Luttrull MD, Boulter DJ, Kirsch CFE, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Acute Mental Status Change, Delirium, and New Onset Psychosis. J Am Coll Radiol 2019;16:S26-S37. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for acute mental status change, delirium, and new onset psychosis. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
3. Policeni B, Corey AS, Burns J, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Cranial Neuropathy. J Am Coll Radiol 2017;14:S406-S20. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for cranial neuropathy. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
4. Schroeder JW, Ptak T, Corey AS, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Penetrating Neck Injury. J Am Coll Radiol 2017;14:S500-S05. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for penetrating neck injury. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
5. Ledbetter LN, Burns J, Shih RY, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria R Cerebrovascular Diseases-Aneurysm, Vascular Malformation, and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 18(11S):S283-S304, 2021 11.J. Am. Coll. Radiol.. 18(11S):S283-S304, 2021 11. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for cerebrovascular diseases-aneurysm, vascular malformation, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
6. Shih RY, Burns J, Ajam AA, et al. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Head Trauma: 2021 Update. J Am Coll Radiol 2021;18:S13-S36. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
Evidence-based guidelines to assist referring physicians and other providers in making the most appropriate imaging or treatment decision for head trauma. |
No results stated in abstract. |
4 |
7. Lioutas VA, Ivan CS, Himali JJ, et al. Incidence of Transient Ischemic Attack and Association With Long-term Risk of Stroke. JAMA 2021;325:373-81. |
Observational-Dx |
14 059 patients |
To determine population-based incidence of TIA and the timing and long-term trends of stroke risk after TIA. |
Among 14 059 participants during 66 years of follow-up (366 209 person-years), 435 experienced TIA (229 women; mean age, 73.47 [SD, 11.48] years and 206 men; mean age, 70.10 [SD, 10.64] years) and were matched to 2175 control participants without TIA. The estimated incidence rate of TIA was 1.19/1000 person-years. Over a median of 8.86 years of follow-up after TIA, 130 participants (29.5%) had a stroke; 28 strokes (21.5%) occurred within 7 days, 40 (30.8%) occurred within 30 days, 51 (39.2%) occurred within 90 days, and 63 (48.5%) occurred more than 1 year after the index TIA; median time to stroke was 1.64 (interquartile range, 0.07-6.6) years. The age- and sex-adjusted cumulative 10-year hazard of incident stroke for patients with TIA (130 strokes among 435 cases) was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.39-0.55) and for matched control participants without TIA (165 strokes among 2175) was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.08-0.11); fully adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 4.37 (95% CI, 3.30-5.71; P < .001). Compared with the 90-day stroke risk after TIA in 1948-1985 (16.7%; 26 strokes among 155 patients with TIA), the risk between 1986-1999 was 11.1% (18 strokes among 162 patients) and between 2000-2017 was 5.9% (7 strokes among 118 patients). Compared with the first epoch, the HR for 90-day risk of stroke in the second epoch was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.33-1.12) and in the third epoch was 0.32 (95% CI, 0.14-0.75) (P = .005 for trend). |
1 |
8. Easton JD, Saver JL, Albers GW, et al. Definition and evaluation of transient ischemic attack: a scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; and the Interdisciplinary Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease. The American Academy of Neurology affirms the value of this statement as an educational tool for neurologists. Stroke 2009;40:2276-93. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To review and synthesize recent scientific advances regarding the definition, urgency, and evaluation of TIA. |
Neuroimaging studies, particularly diffusion-perfusion–weighted MRI, have fundamentally altered our understanding of the pathophysiology of TIA. In routine clinical practice, MRI permits confirmation of focal ischemia rather than another process as the cause of a patient’s deficit, improves accuracy of diagnosis of the vascular localization and cause of TIA, and assesses the extent of preexisting cerebrovascular injury. Accordingly, MRI, including diffusion sequences, should now be considered a preferred diagnostic test in the investigation of the patient with potential TIAs. Additional diagnostic workup, including vessel imaging, cardiac evaluation, and laboratory testing, should be completed according to the AHA acute stroke guidelines. |
4 |
9. Amarenco P. Transient Ischemic Attack. N Engl J Med 2020;382:1933-41. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss transient Ischemic Attack |
No results stated in the abstract |
4 |
10. Tuna MA, Rothwell PM, Oxford Vascular S. Diagnosis of non-consensus transient ischaemic attacks with focal, negative, and non-progressive symptoms: population-based validation by investigation and prognosis. Lancet 2021;397:902-12. |
Observational-Dx |
2878 patients |
To investigate all strokes and sudden onset transient neurological symptoms in a population of 92 728 people (no age restrictions) from Oxfordshire, UK, who sought medical attention at nine primary care practices or at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK (Oxford Vascular Study). |
Between April 1, 2002, and March 31, 2018, 2878 patients were identified with minor ischaemic stroke (n=1287), classic TIA (n=1021), or non-consensus TIA (n=570). Follow-up was to Oct 1, 2018 (median 5·2 [IQR 2·6-9·2] years). 577 first recurrent strokes after the index event occurred during 17 009 person-years of follow-up. 90-day stroke risk from time of the index event after a non-consensus TIA was similar to that after classic TIA (10·6% [95% CI 7·8-12·9] vs 11·6% [95% CI 9·6-13·6]; hazard ratio 0·87, 95% CI 0·64-1·19; p=0·43), and higher than after amaurosis fugax (4·3% [95% CI 0·6-8·0]; p=0·042). However, patients with non-consensus TIA were less likely to seek medical attention on the day of the event than were those with classic TIA (336 of 570 [59%] vs 768 of 1021 [75%]; odds ratio [OR] 0·47, 95% CI 0·38-0·59; p<0·0001) and were more likely to have recurrent strokes before seeking attention (45 of 570 [8%] vs 47 of 1021 [5%]; OR 1·77, 95% CI 1·16-2·71; p=0·007). After excluding such recurrent strokes, 7-day stroke risk after seeking attention for non-consensus TIA (2·9% [95% CI 1·5-4·3]) was still considerably higher than the expected background risk (relative risk [RR] 203, 95% CI 113-334), particularly if the patient sought attention on the day of the index event (5·0% [2·1-7·9]; RR 300, 137-569). 10-year risk of all major vascular events was similar for non-consensus and classic TIAs (27·1% [95% CI 22·8-31·4] vs 30·9% [27·2-33·7]; p=0·12). Baseline prevalence of atrial fibrillation, patent foramen ovale, and arterial stenoses were also similar for non-consensus TIA and classic TIA, although stenoses in the posterior circulation were more frequent with non-consensus TIA (OR 2·21, 95% CI 1·59-3·08; p<0·0001). |
2 |
11. Eliasziw M, Kennedy J, Hill MD, Buchan AM, Barnett HJ, North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial G. Early risk of stroke after a transient ischemic attack in patients with internal carotid artery disease. CMAJ 2004;170:1105-9. |
Experimental-Tx |
1129 patients |
To quantify the early risk of stroke after a TIA in patients with internal carotid artery disease. |
For patients with a first-recorded hemispheric TIA (n = 603), the 90-day risk of ipsilateral stroke was 20.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.0%-23.2%), higher than the 2.3% risk (95% CI 1.0%-3.6%) for patients with a hemispheric stroke (n = 526). The 2-day risks were 5.5% and 0.0%, respectively. Patients with more severe stenosis of the internal carotid artery (> 70%) appeared to be at no greater risk of stroke than patients with lesser degrees of stenosis (adjusted hazard ratio 1.1, 95% CI 0.7-1.7). Infarct on brain imaging (adjusted hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-3.0) and the presence of intracranial major-artery disease (adjusted hazard ratio 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.7) doubled the early risk of stroke in patients with a hemispheric TIA. |
1 |
12. Kleindorfer DO, Towfighi A, Chaturvedi S, et al. 2021 Guideline for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2021;52:e364-e467. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss the Guideline for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients With Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack. |
No result stated in the abstract. |
4 |
13. Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, et al. Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: 2019 Update to the 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2019;50:e344-e418. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To provide an up-to-date comprehensive set of recommendations in a single document for clinicians caring for adult patients with acute arterial ischemic stroke. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
14. Kleinman JT, Mlynash M, Zaharchuk G, et al. Yield of CT perfusion for the evaluation of transient ischaemic attack. Int j. stroke. 10 Suppl A100:25-9, 2015 Oct. |
Observational-Dx |
34 patients |
To define the yield of computed tomography perfusion for the evaluation of transient ischaemic attack. |
Thirty-four patients were included and 17 underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Median delay between onset and computed tomography perfusion was 4·4 h (Interquartile range [IQR]: 1·9-9·6), and between computed tomography perfusion and magnetic resonance imaging was 11 h (Interquartile range: 3·8-22). Noncontrast computed tomography was negative in all cases, while CTPTMax identified an ischaemic lesion in 12/34 patients (35%). In the subgroup of patients with multimodal magnetic resonance imaging, an ischaemic lesion was found in six (35%) patients using CTPTMax versus nine (53%) on magnetic resonance imaging (five diffusion-weighted imaging, nine perfusion-weighted imaging). The additional yield of CTPTMax over computed tomography angiography was significant in the evaluation of transient ischaemic attack (12 vs. 3, McNemar, P = 0·004). |
2 |
15. Prabhakaran S, Patel SK, Samuels J, McClenathan B, Mohammad Y, Lee VH. Perfusion computed tomography in transient ischemic attack. Arch Neurol 2011;68:85-9. |
Observational-Dx |
65 patients |
To examine the frequency of PCT abnormalities in patients with anterior circulation TIA and to identify factors associated with the presence of PCT abnormality. |
Of 65 patients with anterior circulation TIA who underwent PCT (median age, 62.4 years; 49.2% male), 22 (33.8%) had focal perfusion abnormalities. The presence of motor symptoms (95.5% vs 67.4%, P = .01), multiple (>1) episodes (18.2% vs 2.3%, P = .04), ipsilateral arterial stenosis greater than 50% or occlusion (77.3% vs 11.6%, P < .001), large-artery atherosclerosis subtype (59.1% vs 9.3%, P < .001), and subsequent in-hospital events (22.7% vs 0%, P = .001) were more frequent in those with perfusion abnormality. |
2 |
16. Tran L, Lin L, Spratt N, et al. Telestroke Assessment With Perfusion CT Improves the Diagnostic Accuracy of Stroke vs. Mimic. Front Neurol 2021;12:745673. |
Observational-Dx |
1,513 patients |
To determine if, as part of telestroke assessment, CTP provided added benefit to clinical features in distinguishing between strokes and mimic and between transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and mimic. |
There were 693 strokes, 97 TIA, and 259 mimics included in the multivariate regression models. For the stroke vs. mimic model using symptoms only, the area under the curve (AUC) on the receiver operator curve (ROC) was 0.71 (95% CI 0.67-0.75). For the stroke vs. mimic model using the absence of ischaemic lesion on CTP in addition to clinical features, the AUC was 0.90 (95% CI 0.88-0.92). The multivariate regression model for predicting mimic from TIA using symptoms produced an AUC of 0.71 (95% CI 0.65-0.76). The addition of absence of an ischaemic lesion on CTP to clinical features for the TIA vs. mimic model had an AUC of 0.78 (95% CI 0.73-0.83) |
2 |
17. Hashimoto A, Mikami T, Komatsu K, et al. Assessment of Hemodynamic Compromise Using Computed Tomography Perfusion in Combination with 123I-IMP Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography without Acetazolamide Challenge Test. J STROKE CEREBROVASC DIS. 26(3):627-635, 2017 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
20 patients |
To investigate whether CT perfusion in combination with resting state 123I-IMP SPECT could be used instead of the acetazolamide challenge test to evaluate hemodynamic compromise in patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease. |
The asymmetry ratio of MTT as measured by CT perfusion showed a strong correlation with the CVR to acetazolamide as measured by 123I-IMP SPECT (? = -.780, P <.001). Based on the CBF obtained through 123I-IMP SPECT and the MTT obtained through CT perfusion, hemodynamic compromise was detected with high sensitivity (1.000) and specificity (.929), and a cutoff value of 30% was found to be suitable for the asymmetry ratio of MTT. MTT prolongation was significantly improved after revascularization surgery in hemodynamic compromise (P = .028). |
2 |
18. Powers WJ, Clarke WR, Grubb RL, Jr., et al. Extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery for stroke prevention in hemodynamic cerebral ischemia: the Carotid Occlusion Surgery Study randomized trial. JAMA 2011;306:1983-92. |
Observational-Dx |
195 patients |
To test the hypothesis that extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery, added to best medical therapy, reduces subsequent ipsilateral ischemic stroke in patients with recently symptomatic AICAO and hemodynamic cerebral ischemia. |
The trial was terminated early for futility. Two-year rates for the primary end point were 21.0% (95% CI, 12.8% to 29.2%; 20 events) for the surgical group and 22.7% (95% CI, 13.9% to 31.6%; 20 events) for the nonsurgical group (P = .78, Z test), a difference of 1.7% (95% CI, -10.4% to 13.8%). Thirty-day rates for ipsilateral ischemic stroke were 14.4% (14/97) in the surgical group and 2.0% (2/98) in the nonsurgical group, a difference of 12.4% (95% CI, 4.9% to 19.9%). |
2 |
19. Apoil M, Cogez J, Dubuc L, et al. Focal cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage revealed by recurrent paresthesias: a clinico-radiological syndrome strongly associated with cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Cerebrovasc Dis 2013;36:139-44. |
Review/Other-Dx |
17 patients |
To report the clinical, imaging and prognostic data of 17 patients with focal SAH revealed by short episodes of paresthesias mimicking transient ischemic attacks. |
Seventeen patients (12 men) aged 69-96 years were identified. All but 1 had multiple, repeated, stereotyped and brief attacks of paresthesias, associated in some of them with motor and/or speech difficulties, but only 1 had a headache. SAHs were seen on CT scans in 15/17 patients and on T2* gradient-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in all patients. They were multiple SAHs in 14/17 patients, including at least 1 SAH in the central or pre- or postcentral sulcus contralateral to the symptoms in all patients. Five patients had punctate cortical hyperintensities on diffusion-weighted MRI. Eleven patients had CMBs, and 4 of them had more than 5 CMBs. Seven patients met the modified Boston criteria for probable and 10 for possible CAA. At follow-up, 5 patients had a subsequent ICH, 4 of whom had received antithrombotic treatments. Five patients died (1 from ICH). Six patients developed dementia. |
4 |
20. Kumar S, Selim M, Marchina S, Caplan LR. Transient Neurological Symptoms in Patients With Intracerebral Hemorrhage. JAMA Neurol 2016;73:316-20. |
Observational-Dx |
3207 patients |
To describe the clinical presentations and neuroimaging findings in a subset of patients with ICH presenting with transient neurological signs and symptoms. |
Among 3207 consecutive patients with ICH initially screened, 17 fulfilled study criteria (median age, 65 years [interquartile range, 56-73 years]; 11 male). In most patients, recovery from neurological symptoms started within a few hours after onset. Most hemorrhages in this cohort were small, with a mean (SD) hematoma volume of 17 (9.9) mL, and were subcortical in location. One patient died of hemorrhage recurrence. |
4 |
21. Wasserman JK, Perry JJ, Sivilotti ML, et al. Computed tomography identifies patients at high risk for stroke after transient ischemic attack/nondisabling stroke: prospective, multicenter cohort study. Stroke. 46(1):114-9, 2015 Jan. |
Observational-Dx |
2028 patients |
To assess CT findings of acute ischemia, chronic ischemia, or microangiopathy for predicting subsequent stroke after transient ischemic attack. |
A total of 2028 patients were included; 814 had ischemic changes on CT. Subsequent stroke rate was 3.4% at 90 days and 1.5% at =2 days. Stroke risk was greater if baseline CT showed acute ischemia alone (10.6%; P=0.002), acute+chronic ischemia (17.4%; P=0.007), acute ischemia+microangiopathy (17.6%; P=0.019), or acute+chronic ischemia+microangiopathy (25.0%; P=0.029). Logistic regression found acute ischemia alone (odds ratio [OR], 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI[, 1.22-5.57), acute+chronic ischemia (OR, 5.35; 95% CI, 1.71-16.70), acute ischemia+microangiopathy (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 1.33-18.07), or acute+chronic ischemia+microangiopathy (OR, 8.04; 95% CI, 1.52-42.63) was associated with a greater risk at 90 days, whereas acute+chronic ischemia (OR, 10.78; 95% CI, 2.93-36.68), acute ischemia+microangiopathy (OR, 8.90; 95% CI, 1.90-41.60), and acute+chronic ischemia+microangiopathy (OR, 23.66; 95% CI, 4.34-129.03) had greater risk at =2 days. Only acute ischemia (OR, 2.70; 95% CI, 1.01-7.18; P=0.047) was associated with a greater risk at >2 days. |
2 |
22. Liu L, Wong KS, Leng X, et al. Dual antiplatelet therapy in stroke and ICAS: Subgroup analysis of CHANCE. Neurology. 85(13):1154-62, 2015 Sep 29. |
Observational-Dx |
1,089 patients |
To investigate whether the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel plus aspirin vs aspirin alone were consistent between patients with and without intracranial arterial stenosis (ICAS), in the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial. |
Overall, 1,089 patients with MRA images available in CHANCE were included in this subanalysis, 608 patients (55.8%) with ICAS and 481 (44.2%) without. Patients with ICAS had higher rates of recurrent stroke (12.5% vs 5.4%; p<0.0001) at 90 days than those without. But there was no statistically significant treatment by presence of ICAS interaction on either the primary outcome of any stroke (hazard ratio for clopidogrel plus aspirin vs aspirin alone: 0.79 [0.47-1.32] vs 1.12 [0.56-2.25]; interaction p=0.522) or the safety outcome of any bleeding event (interaction p=0.277). |
2 |
23. Turan TN, Zaidat OO, Gronseth GS, et al. Stroke Prevention in Symptomatic Large Artery Intracranial Atherosclerosis Practice Advisory: Report of the AAN Guideline Subcommittee. Neurology 2022;98:486-98. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To review treatments for reducing the risk of recurrent stroke or death in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic arterial stenosis (sICAS). |
Clinicians should recommend aspirin 325 mg/d for long-term prevention of stroke and death and should recommend adding clopidogrel 75 mg/d to aspirin for up to 90 days to further reduce stroke risk in patients with severe (70%-99%) sICAS who have low risk of hemorrhagic transformation. Clinicians should recommend high-intensity statin therapy to achieve a goal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level <70 mg/dL, a long-term blood pressure target of <140/90 mm Hg, at least moderate physical activity, and treatment of other modifiable vascular risk factors for patients with sICAS. Clinicians should not recommend percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting for stroke prevention in patients with moderate (50%-69%) sICAS or as the initial treatment for stroke prevention in patients with severe sICAS. Clinicians should not routinely recommend angioplasty alone or indirect bypass for stroke prevention in patients with sICAS outside clinical trials. Clinicians should not recommend direct bypass for stroke prevention in patients with sICAS. Clinicians should counsel patients about the risks of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting and alternative treatments if one of these procedures is being contemplated. |
4 |
24. Woodcock RJ, Jr., Goldstein JH, Kallmes DF, Cloft HJ, Phillips CD. Angiographic correlation of CT calcification in the carotid siphon. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 1999;20:495-9. |
Observational-Dx |
64 patients |
To determine optimal parameters for assessing carotid siphon calcification on head CT scans and to compare the CT findings with angiographic results. |
The sensitivity and specificity of CT for depicting greater than 50% angiographic stenosis in the carotid siphon were 86% and 98%, respectively, for bone windows and 100% and 0%, respectively, for brain windows. The positive predictive value (PPV) for a stenosis of greater than 50% as evidenced by severe calcification was 86% on bone windows and 11% on brain windows. The PPV for mild and moderate calcification on bone windows was 2.5% and 0%, respectively. |
2 |
25. Wintermark M, Sanelli PC, Albers GW, et al. Imaging recommendations for acute stroke and transient ischemic attack patients: A joint statement by the American Society of Neuroradiology, the American College of Radiology, and the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2013;34:E117-27. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To perform a review of the evidence in the literature on the utility of various imaging techniques in acute stroke and TIA patients to establish best practices with standardization of imaging protocols. |
No results stated in the abstract |
4 |
26. Debrey SM, Yu H, Lynch JK, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance angiography for internal carotid artery disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stroke 2008;39:2237-48. |
Meta-analysis |
N/A |
To perform a systematic review and diagnostic meta-analysis to determine the sensitivity and specificity of time-of-flight (TOF) MRA and contrast-enhanced (CE) MRA for the detection of (1) high-grade (> or = 70% to 99%) ICA stenoses; (2) ICA occlusions; (3) moderately severe (50% to 69%) ICA stenoses; and (4) compare the overall accuracy of the 2 MRA techniques. |
The overall sensitivity of TOF MRA for the detection of > or = 70% to 99% ICA stenoses was 91.2% (95% CI: 88.9% to 93.1%) with a specificity of 88.3% (86.7% to 89.7%), whereas the sensitivity of CE MRA was 94.6% (92.4% to 96.4%) with a specificity of 91.9% (90.3% to 93.4%). For the detection of ICA occlusions, the sensitivity of TOF MRA was 94.5% (91.2% to 96.8%) and the specificity was 99.3% (98.9% to 99.6%), whereas the sensitivity and specificity values for CE MRA were 99.4% (96.8% to 100%) and 99.6% (99.2% to 99.9%), respectively. For moderately severe (50% to 69%) stenoses, TOF MRA had a sensitivity of only 37.9% (29.3% to 47.1%) and a specificity of 92.1% (89.6% to 94.1%); for CE MRA, the pooled sensitivity value was somewhat better at 65.9% (57.0% to 74.0%), whereas the specificity was 93.5% (91.3% to 95.3%). |
Not Assessed |
27. Babiarz LS, Romero JM, Murphy EK, et al. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography is not more accurate than unenhanced 2D time-of-flight MR angiography for determining > or = 70% internal carotid artery stenosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009;30:761-8. |
Observational-Dx |
177 patients |
To compare contrast-enhanced MR angiography (CE-MRA) with unenhanced 2D time-of-flight MR angiography (2D TOF MRA) in detecting hemodynamically significant ICA stenosis, by using CT angiography (CTA) as the reference standard. |
On CTA, there were 55 ICAs with and 299 without > or = 70% stenosis. CE-MRA was 84% sensitive and 96% specific for detecting > or = 70% stenosis; 2D TOF MRA was 80% sensitive and 95% specific. The area under the ROC curve was 0.97 for CE-MRA and 0.95 for 2D TOF MRA (P = .51, not significant). For both MRA studies, each of the luminal signal-intensity characteristics had high specificity (> 98%) but poor-to-mild sensitivity (35%-66%) in detecting > or = 70% stenosis. |
2 |
28. Restrepo L, Jacobs MA, Barker PB, Wityk RJ. Assessment of transient ischemic attack with diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2004;25:1645-52. |
Review/Other-Dx |
22 patients |
To test the hypothesis that PW imaging would substantiate the diagnosis of brain ischemia in an additional proportion of patients with transient neurologic symptoms. |
MR imaging was abnormal in 15 patients (68%): 12 had abnormal DW imaging, four had both DW and PW imaging defects (all with a mismatch) and three had an isolated PW imaging abnormality. There were no differences in symptom duration, stroke etiology or cardiovascular risk factors between patients with abnormal MR imaging and those with unremarkable scan. Patients with mismatch were more likely to need conventional angiography or other cerebrovascular procedures. |
4 |
29. Nah HW, Kwon SU, Kang DW, Lee DH, Kim JS. Diagnostic and prognostic value of multimodal MRI in transient ischemic attack. Int j. stroke. 9(7):895-901, 2014 Oct. |
Observational-Dx |
162 patients |
To investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in transient ischemic attack patients. |
Abnormalities were present on diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion-weighted imaging, and magnetic resonance angiogram in 38·9%, 44·1%, and 51·9% of patients, respectively. Diffusion-weighted imaging plus perfusion-weighted imaging explained 64·8%, and the addition of magnetic resonance angiogram explained 74% of the transient ischemic attack symptoms. The initial diffusion-weighted imaging positivity was associated with longer time from symptom onset to magnetic resonance imaging examination (odds ratio, 1·039; 95% confidence interval, 1·008-1·071; P=0·013). On follow-up diffusion-weighted imaging, new lesions were found in 46·7% of the patients who initially showed normal diffusion-weighted imaging findings. Initial perfusion-weighted imaging abnormality predicted the appearance of follow-up diffusion-weighted imaging lesion (chi-square=7·774, P=0·005). During the three-months follow-up, 23 patients (14·2%) experienced subsequent transient ischemic attack (n=16) or stroke (n=7). Symptomatic magnetic resonance angiogram abnormality (odds ratio, 12·667; 95% confidence interval, 2·859-56·110; P=0·001) was the only independent factor associated with clinical events with a sensitivity of 91·3% and specificity of 54·7% (C statistics, 0·73). None with initially normal multimodal magnetic resonance imaging findings developed subsequent clinical events. |
2 |
30. Grams RW, Kidwell CS, Doshi AH, et al. Tissue-Negative Transient Ischemic Attack: Is There a Role for Perfusion MRI?. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 207(1):157-62, 2016 Jul. |
Observational-Dx |
52 patients |
To assess the added diagnostic value of perfusion MRI in the evaluation of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) who have normal DWI findings. |
Fifty-two patients (33 women, 19 men; age range, 20-95 years) met the inclusion criteria. A regional perfusion abnormality was identified on either Tmax or CBF maps of 12 of 52 (23%) patients. Seven (58%) of the patients with perfusion abnormalities had hypoperfused lesions best detected on Tmax maps; the other five had hyperperfusion best detected on CBF maps. In 11 of 12 (92%) patients with abnormal perfusion MRI findings, the regional perfusion deficit correlated with the initial neurologic deficits. Multivariable analysis revealed no significant difference in demographics, ABCD2 scores, or presentation characteristics between patients with and those without perfusion abnormalities. |
2 |
31. Kim JH, Lee SJ, Shin T, et al. Correlative assessment of hemodynamic parameters obtained with T2*-weighted perfusion MR imaging and SPECT in symptomatic carotid artery occlusion. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2000;21:1450-6. |
Observational-Dx |
10 patients |
To perform perfusion MR imaging and SPECT in 10 patients with symptomatic unilateral internal carotid artery occlusion. |
Normal-to-increased CBV, prolonged uMTT, decreased CBF, and normal-to-diminished vascular reserve capacity were observed in the affected vascular territories. Reduction of vascular reserve capacity corresponded well with uMTT but not with CBF and CBV. CBF, CBV, and uMTT did not correspond to one another. |
2 |
32. Ma J, Mehrkens JH, Holtmannspoetter M, et al. Perfusion MRI before and after acetazolamide administration for assessment of cerebrovascular reserve capacity in patients with symptomatic internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion: comparison with 99mTc-ECD SPECT. Neuroradiology 2007;49:317-26. |
Observational-Dx |
12 patients |
To hypothesis that perfusion MRI could be used in these patients for the evaluation of CVR following acetazolamide challenge in a similar way to single photon emission CT (SPECT) and might provide additional information. |
The patients with impaired CVR proven by SPECT (n = 9) had a negative mean rCBF increment (-46.52%), negative rCBV increment (-13.5%) and delayed MTT (mean +2.98 s), respectively, on the occluded side (Student's t-test all P < 0.05). The patients with sufficient CVR (n = 3) had a mean rCBF increment of 1.2%, a decrement of rCBV of 10.46%, and a mean MTT shortening of 0.27 s following the acetazolamide injection. |
2 |
33. Choi HJ, Sohn CH, You SH, et al. Can Arterial Spin-Labeling with Multiple Postlabeling Delays Predict Cerebrovascular Reserve? AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2018;39:84-90. |
Observational-Dx |
30 patients |
To evaluate the usefulness of the transit time-corrected CBF and arterial transit time delay from multiple postlabeling delays arterial spin-labeling compared with basal/acetazolamide stress technetium Tc99m-hexamethylpropylene amineoxime (Tc99m-HMPAO) SPECT in predicting impairment in the cerebrovascular reserve. |
The affected hemisphere had a decreased transit time-corrected CBF and increased arterial transit time compared with the corresponding values of the contralateral normal hemisphere, which were statistically significant (P < .001). The percentage change of transit time-corrected CBF and the percentage change of arterial transit time were independently differentiating variables (P < .001) for predicting cerebrovascular reserve impairment. The correlation coefficient between the arterial transit time and cerebrovascular reserve index ratio was -0.511. |
2 |
34. Nadarajan V, Perry RJ, Johnson J, Werring DJ. Transient ischaemic attacks: mimics and chameleons. Pract Neurol 2014;14:23-31. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss mainly the common TIA mimics, but also briefly mention the rather less common situations where transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) can look like something else ('chameleons'). |
No results stated in the abstract |
4 |
35. Gon Y, Sakaguchi M, Okazaki S, Mochizuki H, Kitagawa K. Prevalence of positive diffusion-weighted imaging findings and ischemic stroke recurrence in transient ischemic attack. J STROKE CEREBROVASC DIS. 24(5):1000-7, 2015 May. |
Observational-Dx |
139 patients |
To clarify the prevalence of positive DWI findings and TIA recurrence in relation to TIA patient characteristics. |
We enrolled 139 patients with lacunar TIA (n = 17), atherothrombotic TIA (n = 35), cardioembolic TIA (n = 25), TIA due to other causes (n = 32), or TIA with undetermined etiology (n = 30). The prevalence of positive DWI findings was highest among the cardioembolic TIA patients (56.0%). No association was found between the prevalence of positive DWI findings and symptom duration, motor presence, or ABCD(2) score. Plasma d-dimer level was significantly higher in the DWI-positive group than that in the DWI-negative group (P = .01). The prevalence of TIA recurrence was highest (5 of 35, 14.3%) among the atherothrombotic TIA patients, regardless of positive DWI findings. None of the patients treated with the anticoagulant and antiplatelet combination therapy experienced a recurrence. In contrast, almost all patients with cardioembolic TIA received anticoagulant treatment and none experienced recurrence. |
2 |
36. Uno H, Nagatsuka K, Kokubo Y, et al. Detectability of ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging is biphasic after transient ischemic attack. J STROKE CEREBROVASC DIS. 24(5):1059-64, 2015 May. |
Observational-Dx |
144 patients |
To clarify whether poorly detectable phase also exists in DWI of transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients. |
Lesions were detected in 33 of 144 patients (22.9%). The frequency of positive lesions was 20% in the intraischemic period and 30.8% at 0-1 hour after the end of TIA; it markedly decreased to 8.7% at 1-12 hours after end of TIA. Thereafter, it increased to 21.7%, 30.8%, 36.4%, 37.0%, 38.5%, and 30% at 12-24 hours, 1-2 days, 2-3 days, 3-7 days, 7-10 days, and 10-14 days after the end of TIA, respectively. In 7 patients, MRI was repeated twice, at 1-12 hours and then at 5-13 days after the end of TIA. Lesions were never detected on the first MRI but were clearly demonstrated in 4 of 7 patients on the second MRI. |
4 |
37. Togay Isikay C, Kural AM, Erden I. Cerebral vein thrombosis as an exceptional cause of transient ischemic attack. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2012;21:907 e9-12. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To present a case of transient ischemic attack (TIA) as an extremely rare presentation of cerebral vein thrombosis. A 41-year-old man presented with a headache and episodes of hypoesthesia on his left side lasting approximately 30 minutes. |
No results stated in th eabstract |
4 |
38. Wardlaw JM, Chappell FM, Best JJ, et al. Non-invasive imaging compared with intra-arterial angiography in the diagnosis of symptomatic carotid stenosis: a meta-analysis. Lancet 2006;367:1503-12. |
Meta-analysis |
41 studies |
To systematically review the accuracy of non-invasive imaging compared with intra-arterial angiography for diagnosing carotid stenosis in patients with carotid territory ischaemic symptoms. |
In 41 included studies (2541 patients, 4876 arteries), contrast-enhanced MR angiography was more sensitive (0.94, 95% CI 0.88-0.97) and specific (0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.96) for 70-99% stenosis than Doppler ultrasound, MR angiography, and CT angiography (sensitivities 0.89, 0.88, 0.76; specificities 0.84, 0.84, 0.94, respectively). Data for 50-69% stenoses and combinations of non-invasive tests were sparse and unreliable. There was heterogeneity between studies and evidence of publication bias. |
M |
39. Saver JL. Time is brain--quantified. Stroke 2006;37:263-6. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss how much brain is lost per time. |
The typical final volume of large vessel, supratentorial ischemic stroke is 54 mL (varied in sensitivity analysis from 19 to 100 mL). The average duration of nonlacunar stroke evolution is 10 hours (range 6 to 18 hours), and the average number of neurons in the human forebrain is 22 billion. In patients experiencing a typical large vessel acute ischemic stroke, 120 million neurons, 830 billion synapses, and 714 km (447 miles) of myelinated fibers are lost each hour. In each minute, 1.9 million neurons, 14 billion synapses, and 12 km (7.5 miles) of myelinated fibers are destroyed. Compared with the normal rate of neuron loss in brain aging, the ischemic brain ages 3.6 years each hour without treatment. Altering single input variables in sensitivity analyses modestly affected the estimated point values but not order of magnitude. |
4 |
40. Thomalla G, Simonsen CZ, Boutitie F, et al. MRI-Guided Thrombolysis for Stroke with Unknown Time of Onset. N Engl J Med. 379(7):611-622, 2018 08 16. |
Observational-Dx |
800 patients |
To sought to determine whether patients with stroke with an unknown time of onset and features suggesting recent cerebral infarction on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) would benefit from thrombolysis with the use of intravenous alteplase. |
The trial was stopped early owing to cessation of funding after the enrollment of 503 of an anticipated 800 patients. Of these patients, 254 were randomly assigned to receive alteplase and 249 to receive placebo. A favorable outcome at 90 days was reported in 131 of 246 patients (53.3%) in the alteplase group and in 102 of 244 patients (41.8%) in the placebo group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09 to 2.36; P=0.02). The median score on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days was 1 in the alteplase group and 2 in the placebo group (adjusted common odds ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.23; P=0.003). There were 10 deaths (4.1%) in the alteplase group and 3 (1.2%) in the placebo group (odds ratio, 3.38; 95% CI, 0.92 to 12.52; P=0.07). The rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was 2.0% in the alteplase group and 0.4% in the placebo group (odds ratio, 4.95; 95% CI, 0.57 to 42.87; P=0.15). |
2 |
41. Ma H, Campbell BCV, Parsons MW, et al. Thrombolysis Guided by Perfusion Imaging up to 9 Hours after Onset of Stroke. New England Journal of Medicine. 380(19):1795-1803, 2019 05 09. |
Experimental-Dx |
310 patients |
To conduct a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving patients with ischemic stroke who had hypoperfused but salvageable regions of brain detected on automated perfusion imaging. |
After 225 of the planned 310 patients had been enrolled, the trial was terminated because of a loss of equipoise after the publication of positive results from a previous trial. A total of 113 patients were randomly assigned to the alteplase group and 112 to the placebo group. The primary outcome occurred in 40 patients (35.4%) in the alteplase group and in 33 patients (29.5%) in the placebo group (adjusted risk ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 2.06; P = 0.04). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 7 patients (6.2%) in the alteplase group and in 1 patient (0.9%) in the placebo group (adjusted risk ratio, 7.22; 95% CI, 0.97 to 53.5; P = 0.05). A secondary ordinal analysis of the distribution of scores on the modified Rankin scale did not show a significant between-group difference in functional improvement at 90 days. |
1 |
42. Campbell BCV, Ma H, Ringleb PA, et al. Extending thrombolysis to 4.5-9 h and wake-up stroke using perfusion imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data. Lancet 2019;394:139-47. |
Meta-analysis |
414 patients (3 trials) |
To review the reference list of a previous systematic review of thrombolysis and searched ClinicalTrials.gov for interventional studies of ischaemic stroke. |
We identified three trials that met eligibility criteria: EXTEND, ECASS4-EXTEND, and EPITHET. Of the 414 patients included in the three trials, 213 (51%) were assigned to receive alteplase and 201 (49%) were assigned to receive placebo. Overall, 211 patients in the alteplase group and 199 patients in the placebo group had mRS assessment data at 3 months and thus were included in the analysis of the primary outcome. 76 (36%) of 211 patients in the alteplase group and 58 (29%) of 199 patients in the placebo group had achieved excellent functional outcome at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1·86, 95% CI 1·15-2·99, p=0·011). Symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage was more common in the alteplase group than the placebo group (ten [5%] of 213 patients vs one [<1%] of 201 patients in the placebo group; adjusted OR 9·7, 95% CI 1·23-76·55, p=0·031). 29 (14%) of 213 patients in the alteplase group and 18 (9%) of 201 patients in the placebo group died (adjusted OR 1·55, 0·81-2·96, p=0·66). |
Good |
43. Thomalla G, Boutitie F, Ma H, et al. Intravenous alteplase for stroke with unknown time of onset guided by advanced imaging: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual patient data. Lancet 2020;396:1574-84. |
Meta-analysis |
249 abstracts |
To to establish whether intravenous alteplase is safe and effective in such patients when salvageable tissue has been identified with imaging biomarkers. |
Of 249 identified abstracts, four trials met our eligibility criteria for inclusion: WAKE-UP, EXTEND, THAWS, and ECASS-4. The four trials provided individual patient data for 843 individuals, of whom 429 (51%) were assigned to alteplase and 414 (49%) to placebo or standard care. A favourable outcome occurred in 199 (47%) of 420 patients with alteplase and in 160 (39%) of 409 patients among controls (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1·49 [95% CI 1·10-2·03]; p=0·011), with low heterogeneity across studies (I2=27%). Alteplase was associated with a significant shift towards better functional outcome (adjusted common OR 1·38 [95% CI 1·05-1·80]; p=0·019), and a higher odds of independent outcome (adjusted OR 1·50 [1·06-2·12]; p=0·022). In the alteplase group, 90 (21%) patients were severely disabled or died (mRS score 4-6), compared with 102 (25%) patients in the control group (adjusted OR 0·76 [0·52-1·11]; p=0·15). 27 (6%) patients died in the alteplase group and 14 (3%) patients died among controls (adjusted OR 2·06 [1·03-4·09]; p=0·040). The prevalence of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was higher in the alteplase group than among controls (11 [3%] vs two [<1%], adjusted OR 5·58 [1·22-25·50]; p=0·024). |
Good |
44. Goyal M, Menon BK, van Zwam WH, et al. Endovascular thrombectomy after large-vessel ischaemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from five randomised trials. Lancet. 387(10029):1723-31, 2016 Apr 23. |
Meta-analysis |
287 patients (5 trials) |
To pool individual patient data from these trials to address remaining questions about whether the therapy is efficacious across the diverse populations included. |
We analysed individual data for 1287 patients (634 assigned to endovascular thrombectomy, 653 assigned to control). Endovascular thrombectomy led to significantly reduced disability at 90 days compared with control (adjusted cOR 2.49, 95% CI 1.76-3.53; p<0.0001). The number needed to treat with endovascular thrombectomy to reduce disability by at least one level on mRS for one patient was 2.6. Subgroup analysis of the primary endpoint showed no heterogeneity of treatment effect across prespecified subgroups for reduced disability (pinteraction=0.43). Effect sizes favouring endovascular thrombectomy over control were present in several strata of special interest, including in patients aged 80 years or older (cOR 3.68, 95% CI 1.95-6.92), those randomised more than 300 min after symptom onset (1.76, 1.05-2.97), and those not eligible for intravenous alteplase (2.43, 1.30-4.55). Mortality at 90 days and risk of parenchymal haematoma and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage did not differ between populations. |
Not Assessed |
45. Jovin TG, Chamorro A, Cobo E, et al. Thrombectomy within 8 hours after symptom onset in ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med. 372(24):2296-306, 2015 Jun 11. |
Observational-Dx |
206 patients |
To assess the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy for the treatment of stroke in a trial embedded within a population-based stroke reperfusion registry. |
Thrombectomy reduced the severity of disability over the range of the modified Rankin scale (adjusted odds ratio for improvement of 1 point, 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 2.8) and led to higher rates of functional independence (a score of 0 to 2) at 90 days (43.7% vs. 28.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.0). At 90 days, the rates of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were 1.9% in both the thrombectomy group and the control group (P=1.00), and rates of death were 18.4% and 15.5%, respectively (P=0.60). Registry data indicated that only eight patients who met the eligibility criteria were treated outside the trial at participating hospitals. |
2 |
46. Nogueira RG, Jadhav AP, Haussen DC, et al. Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after Stroke with a Mismatch between Deficit and Infarct. N Engl J Med 2018;378:11-21. |
Observational-Dx |
206 patients |
To discuss Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after Stroke with a Mismatch between Deficit and Infarct |
A total of 206 patients were enrolled; 107 were assigned to the thrombectomy group and 99 to the control group. At 31 months, enrollment in the trial was stopped because of the results of a prespecified interim analysis. The mean score on the utility-weighted modified Rankin scale at 90 days was 5.5 in the thrombectomy group as compared with 3.4 in the control group (adjusted difference [Bayesian analysis], 2.0 points; 95% credible interval, 1.1 to 3.0; posterior probability of superiority, >0.999), and the rate of functional independence at 90 days was 49% in the thrombectomy group as compared with 13% in the control group (adjusted difference, 33 percentage points; 95% credible interval, 24 to 44; posterior probability of superiority, >0.999). The rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ significantly between the two groups (6% in the thrombectomy group and 3% in the control group, P=0.50), nor did 90-day mortality (19% and 18%, respectively; P=1.00). |
4 |
47. Yoshimura S, Sakai N, Yamagami H, et al. Endovascular Therapy for Acute Stroke with a Large Ischemic Region. N Engl J Med. 386(14):1303-1313, 2022 04 07. |
Experimental-Dx |
203 patients |
To discuss endovascular Therapy for Acute Stroke with a Large Ischemic Region |
A total of 203 patients underwent randomization; 101 patients were assigned to the endovascular-therapy group and 102 to the medical-care group. Approximately 27% of patients in each group received alteplase. The percentage of patients with a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 3 at 90 days was 31.0% in the endovascular-therapy group and 12.7% in the medical-care group (relative risk, 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35 to 4.37; P = 0.002). The ordinal shift across the range of modified Rankin scale scores generally favored endovascular therapy. An improvement of at least 8 points on the NIHSS score at 48 hours was observed in 31.0% of the patients in the endovascular-therapy group and 8.8% of those in the medical-care group (relative risk, 3.51; 95% CI, 1.76 to 7.00), and any intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 58.0% and 31.4%, respectively (P<0.001). |
2 |
48. Tao C, Nogueira RG, Zhu Y, et al. Trial of Endovascular Treatment of Acute Basilar-Artery Occlusion. N Engl J Med 2022;387:1361-72. |
Experimental-Dx |
507 patients |
To investigate the effects and risks of endovascular thrombectomy for the treatment of stroke due to basilar-artery occlusion are limited. |
Of the 507 patients who underwent screening, 340 were in the intention-to-treat population, with 226 assigned to the thrombectomy group and 114 to the control group. Intravenous thrombolysis was used in 31% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and in 34% of those in the control group. Good functional status at 90 days occurred in 104 patients (46%) in the thrombectomy group and in 26 (23%) in the control group (adjusted rate ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46 to 2.91, P<0.001). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 12 patients (5%) in the thrombectomy group and in none in the control group. Results for the secondary clinical and imaging outcomes were generally in the same direction as those for the primary outcome. Mortality at 90 days was 37% in the thrombectomy group and 55% in the control group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.82). Procedural complications occurred in 14% of the patients in the thrombectomy group, including one death due to arterial perforation. |
1 |
49. Jovin TG, Li C, Wu L, et al. Trial of Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after Stroke Due to Basilar-Artery Occlusion. N Engl J Med 2022;387:1373-84. |
Observational-Dx |
217 patients |
To discuss the effects and risks of endovascular thrombectomy 6 to 24 hours after stroke onset due to basilar-artery occlusion. |
A total of 217 patients (110 in the thrombectomy group and 107 in the control group) were included in the analysis; randomization occurred at a median of 663 minutes after symptom onset. Enrollment was halted at a prespecified interim analysis because of the superiority of thrombectomy. Thrombolysis was used in 14% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and in 21% of those in the control group. A modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 3 (primary outcome) occurred in 51 patients (46%) in the thrombectomy group and in 26 (24%) in the control group (adjusted rate ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 2.60; P<0.001). The results for the original primary outcome of a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 4 were 55% and 43%, respectively (adjusted rate ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.54). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 6 of 102 patients (6%) in the thrombectomy group and in 1 of 88 (1%) in the control group (risk ratio, 5.18; 95% CI, 0.64 to 42.18). Mortality at 90 days was 31% in the thrombectomy group and 42% in the control group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.54 to 1.04). Procedural complications occurred in 11% of the patients who underwent thrombectomy. |
2 |
50. Sarraj A, Hassan AE, Abraham MG, et al. Trial of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Large Ischemic Strokes. N Engl J Med 2023. |
Observational-Dx |
178 patients |
To perform a prospective, randomized, open-label, adaptive, international trial involving patients with stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid artery or the first segment of the middle cerebral artery to assess endovascular thrombectomy within 24 hours after onset. |
The trial was stopped early for efficacy; 178 patients had been assigned to the thrombectomy group and 174 to the medical-care group. The generalized odds ratio for a shift in the distribution of modified Rankin scale scores toward better outcomes in favor of thrombectomy was 1.51 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20 to 1.89; P<0.001). A total of 20% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and 7% in the medical-care group had functional independence (relative risk, 2.97; 95% CI, 1.60 to 5.51). Mortality was similar in the two groups. In the thrombectomy group, arterial access-site complications occurred in 5 patients, dissection in 10, cerebral-vessel perforation in 7, and transient vasospasm in 11. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 1 patient in the thrombectomy group and in 2 in the medical-care group. |
2 |
51. Smith EE, Kent DM, Bulsara KR, et al. Accuracy of Prediction Instruments for Diagnosing Large Vessel Occlusion in Individuals With Suspected Stroke: A Systematic Review for the 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke. [Review]. Stroke. 49(3):e111-e122, 2018 03. |
Review/Other-Dx |
36 studies |
To review systematically evidence for the accuracy of LVO prediction instruments. |
Thirty-six relevant studies were identified. Most studies (21 of 36) recruited patients with ischemic stroke, with few studies in the prehospital setting (4 of 36) and in populations that included hemorrhagic stroke or stroke mimics (12 of 36). The most frequently studied prediction instrument was the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Most studies had either some risk of bias or unclear risk of bias. Reported discrimination of LVO mostly ranged from 0.70 to 0.85, as measured by the C statistic. In meta-analysis, sensitivity was as high as 87% and specificity was as high as 90%, but no threshold on any instruments predicted LVO with both high sensitivity and specificity. With a positive LVO prediction test, the probability of LVO could be 50% to 60% (depending on the LVO prevalence in the population), but the probability of LVO with a negative test could still be =10%. |
4 |
52. Powers WJ. Acute Ischemic Stroke. N Engl J Med 2020;383:252-60. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss Acute Ischemic Stroke |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
53. Brehm A, Tsogkas I, Ospel JM, et al. Direct to angiography suite approaches for the triage of suspected acute stroke patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2022;15:17562864221078177. |
Meta-analysis |
8 studies |
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of DTAS approaches. |
Eight studies (one randomized, one cluster-randomized trial and six observational studies) with 1938 patients were included. Door-to-groin and door-to-reperfusion times in the intervention group were on median 29.0 min [95% confidence interval (CI): 14.3-43.6; p < 0.001] and 32.1 min (95% CI: 15.1-49.1; p < 0.001) shorter compared with controls. Prespecified subgroup analyses for transfer (n = 1753) and mothership patients (n = 185) showed similar reductions of the door-to-groin and door-to-reperfusion times in response to the intervention. The odds of good outcome did not differ significantly between both groups but were numerically higher in the intervention group (odds ratio: 1.38, 95% CI: 0.97-1.95; p = 0.07). There was no significant difference for mortality and sICH between the groups. |
Good |
54. Mohammaden MH, Doheim MF, Elfil M, et al. Direct to Angiosuite Versus Conventional Imaging in Suspected Large Vessel Occlusion: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis. Stroke 2022;53:2478-87. |
Meta-analysis |
1971 patients (7 studies) |
To conduct the meta-analysis to compare both approaches to build more concrete evidence to support this innovative treatment concept. |
Among 4514 searched studies, 7 qualified for the analysis with 1971 patients (DTAS=675, DTCI=1296). Times from door to puncture (mean difference, -30.76 minutes [95% CI, -43.70 to -17.82]; P<0.001) as well as door-to-reperfusion (mean difference=-33.24 minutes [95% CI, -51.82 to -14.66]; P<0.001) were significantly shorter and the rates of functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2: risk ratio [RR], 1.25 [95% CI, 1.02-1.53]; P=0.03) at 90 days were higher in the DTAS versus the DTCI approach. There was no difference across the DTAS and DTCI groups in terms of the rates of successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2B-3: RR, 1.03 [95% CI, 0.95-1.12]; P=0.42), near-complete/full reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 2C-3: RR, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.74-1.08]; P=0.23), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (RR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.56-1.17]; P=0.26), or fair outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0-3: RR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.88-1.47]; P=0.32) or mortality (RR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.67-1.44]; P=0.93) at 90 days. Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in 90-day functional independence across approaches in transfer patients (RR, 1.20 [95% CI, 0.96-1.51]; P=0.11). |
Good |
55. Kim SK, Baek BH, Lee YY, Yoon W. Clinical implications of CT hyperdense artery sign in patients with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion in the era of modern mechanical thrombectomy. J Neurol. 264(12):2450-2456, 2017 Dec. |
Observational-Dx |
212 patients |
To investigate prognostic implications of the CT hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign (HMCAS) on treatment outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy for acute MCA occlusions. |
A retrospective analysis of CT and clinical data from 212 patients with acute MCA occlusions who underwent mechanical thrombectomy was conducted. HMCAS was determined with visual assessment by consensus of two readers. Interobserver agreement was measured. HMCAS was classified into two groups: M1 and M2 HMCAS. Associations between HMCAS and vascular risk factors, stroke etiology, and treatment outcomes were analyzed. Of 212 patients, HMCAS was identified in 118 patients (55.7%). Overall, successful reperfusion was achieved in 82.5% (175/212) and a good outcome in 45.8% (97/212). There was no significant association between HMCAS and treatment outcomes after mechanical thrombectomy, regardless of HMCAS location. Cardioembolism was more frequent in patients with a positive HMCAS (67.8 vs 48.9%, P = 0.005). Large-artery atherosclerosis was more frequent in patients with a negative HMCAS (31.9 vs 12.7%, P = 0.001). Underlying severe MCA stenosis was more frequently observed in patients with a negative HMCAS (25.5 vs 3.4%, P < 0.001). Our study suggests that the prognostic implication of a HMCAS in predicting outcomes after endovascular therapy in patients with acute MCA occlusion may be low in the era of modern mechanical thrombectomy. Negative HMCAS is predictive of in situ thrombotic occlusion due to underlying severe atherosclerotic stenosis in such patients. |
2 |
56. Saver JL, Goyal M, van der Lugt A, et al. Time to Treatment With Endovascular Thrombectomy and Outcomes From Ischemic Stroke: A Meta-analysis. JAMA. 316(12):1279-88, 2016 Sep 27. |
Observational-Dx |
1287 patients |
To characterize the period in which endovascular thrombectomy is associated with benefit, and the extent to which treatment delay is related to functional outcomes, mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. |
Among all 1287 patients (endovascular thrombectomy + medical therapy [n = 634]; medical therapy alone [n = 653]) enrolled in the 5 trials (mean age, 66.5 years [SD, 13.1]; women, 47.0%), time from symptom onset to randomization was 196 minutes (IQR, 142 to 267). Among the endovascular group, symptom onset to arterial puncture was 238 minutes (IQR, 180 to 302) and symptom onset to reperfusion was 286 minutes (IQR, 215 to 363). At 90 days, the mean mRS score was 2.9 (95% CI, 2.7 to 3.1) in the endovascular group and 3.6 (95% CI, 3.5 to 3.8) in the medical therapy group. The odds of better disability outcomes at 90 days (mRS scale distribution) with the endovascular group declined with longer time from symptom onset to arterial puncture: cOR at 3 hours, 2.79 (95% CI, 1.96 to 3.98), absolute risk difference (ARD) for lower disability scores, 39.2%; cOR at 6 hours, 1.98 (95% CI, 1.30 to 3.00), ARD, 30.2%; cOR at 8 hours,1.57 (95% CI, 0.86 to 2.88), ARD, 15.7%; retaining statistical significance through 7 hours and 18 minutes. Among 390 patients who achieved substantial reperfusion with endovascular thrombectomy, each 1-hour delay to reperfusion was associated with a less favorable degree of disability (cOR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.76 to 0.93]; ARD, -6.7%) and less functional independence (OR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71 to 0.92], ARD, -5.2% [95% CI, -8.3% to -2.1%]), but no change in mortality (OR, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.34]; ARD, 1.5% [95% CI, -0.9% to 4.2%]). |
2 |
57. Albers GW, Marks MP, Kemp S, et al. Thrombectomy for Stroke at 6 to 16 Hours with Selection by Perfusion Imaging. N Engl J Med. 378(8):708-718, 2018 02 22. |
Experimental-Tx |
182 patients |
To test the hypothesis that patients who were likely to have salvageable ischemic brain tissue as identified by perfusion imaging and who underwent endovascular therapy 6 to 16 hours after they were last known to have been well would have better functional outcomes than patients treated with standard medical therapy. |
The trial was conducted at 38 U.S. centers and terminated early for efficacy after 182 patients had undergone randomization (92 to the endovascular-therapy group and 90 to the medical-therapy group). Endovascular therapy plus medical therapy, as compared with medical therapy alone, was associated with a favorable shift in the distribution of functional outcomes on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days (odds ratio, 2.77; P<0.001) and a higher percentage of patients who were functionally independent, defined as a score on the modified Rankin scale of 0 to 2 (45% vs. 17%, P<0.001). The 90-day mortality rate was 14% in the endovascular-therapy group and 26% in the medical-therapy group (P=0.05), and there was no significant between-group difference in the frequency of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (7% and 4%, respectively; P=0.75) or of serious adverse events (43% and 53%, respectively; P=0.18). |
1 |
58. Barber PA, Demchuk AM, Zhang J, Buchan AM. Validity and reliability of a quantitative computed tomography score in predicting outcome of hyperacute stroke before thrombolytic therapy. ASPECTS Study Group. Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score. Lancet 2000;355:1670-4. |
Observational-Dx |
203 patients |
To test a quantitative CT score, the Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score (ASPECTS). |
Ischaemic changes on the baseline CT were seen in 117 (75%) of 156 treated patients with anterior-circulation ischaemia included in the analysis (23 had ischaemia in the posterior circulation and 24 were treated outside the protocol). Baseline ASPECTS value correlated inversely with the severity of stroke on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (r=-0.56, p<0.001). Baseline ASPECTS value predicted functional outcome and symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (p<0.001, p=0.012, respectively). The sensitivity of ASPECTS for functional outcome was 0.78 and specificity 0.96; the values for symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage were 0.90 and 0.62. Agreement between observers for ASPECTS, with knowledge of the affected hemisphere, was good (kappa statistic 0.71-0.89). |
2 |
59. Puetz V, Sylaja PN, Coutts SB, et al. Extent of hypoattenuation on CT angiography source images predicts functional outcome in patients with basilar artery occlusion. Stroke 2008;39:2485-90. |
Observational-Dx |
130 patients |
To test the validity of a novel CT score, the posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT score (pc-ASPECTS). |
Of 130 patients with suspected vertebrobasilar ischemia, 72% (94) had posterior circulation stroke, 8% (10) transient ischemic attack, and 20% (26) nonischemic etiology. Sensitivity for ischemic changes was improved with CTASI compared to NCCT (65% [95% CI, 57% to 73%] versus 46% [95% CI, 37% to 55%], respectively). Pc-ASPECTS score on CTASI but not NCCT predicted functional independence (OR 1.58; P=0.005 versus 1.22; P=0.42, respectively). Of 46 patients with BAO, 52% (12/23) with CTASI pc-ASPECTS score >/=8 but only 4% (1/23) with a score <8 had favorable functional outcome (RR 12.1; 95% CI, 1.7 to 84.9). This difference was consistent in 21 patients with angiographic recanalization (RR 7.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 52.1). |
2 |
60. Duvekot MHC, van Es A, Venema E, et al. Accuracy of CTA evaluations in daily clinical practice for large and medium vessel occlusion detection in suspected stroke patients. Eur Stroke J 2021;6:357-66. |
Observational-Dx |
656 patients |
To assess the accuracy of CTA evaluations in daily clinical practice in a large cohort of suspected stroke patients. |
We included 656 patients. The core laboratory detected 89 LVOs and 74 MeVOs in 155 patients. Local observers missed 6 LVOs (7%) and 28 MeVOs (38%), of which 23 M2 occlusions. Accuracy of LVO detection was 99% (95% CI: 98-100%), sensitivity 93% (95% CI: 86-97%), and specificity 100% (95% CI: 99-100%). Accuracy of LVO+MeVO detection was 95% (95% CI: 93-96%), sensitivity 79% (95% CI: 72-85%), and specificity 99% (95% CI: 98-100%). |
2 |
61. Goyal M, Jadhav AP, Bonafe A, et al. Analysis of Workflow and Time to Treatment and the Effects on Outcome in Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Results from the SWIFT PRIME Randomized Controlled Trial. Radiology 2016;279:888-97. |
Observational-Dx |
196 patients |
To study the relationship between functional independence and time to reperfusion in the Solitaire with the Intention for Thrombectomy as Primary Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke (SWIFT PRIME) trial in patients with disabling acute ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular therapy plus intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration versus tPA administration alone and to investigate variables that affect time spent during discrete steps. |
In the stent retriever arm of the study, symptom onset to reperfusion time of 150 minutes led to 91% estimated probability of functional independence, which decreased by 10% over the next hour and by 20% with every subsequent hour of delay. Time from arrival at the emergency department to arterial access was 90 minutes (interquartile range, 69-120 minutes), and time to reperfusion was 129 minutes (interquartile range, 108-169 minutes). Patients who initially arrived at a referring facility had longer symptom onset to groin puncture times compared with patients who presented directly to the endovascular-capable center (275 vs 179.5 minutes, P < .001). Conclusion Fast reperfusion leads to improved functional outcome among patients with acute stroke treated with stent retrievers. Detailed attention to workflow with iterative feedback and aggressive time goals may have contributed to efficient workflow environments. |
2 |
62. Adam G, Ferrier M, Patsoura S, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of arterial stroke mimics: a pictorial review. Insights Imaging 2018;9:815-31. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To propose a diagnostic approach of those stroke mimics on MRI according to an algorithm based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), which can be abnormal or normal, followed by the results of other common additional MRI sequences, such as T2 with gradient recalled echo weighted imaging (T2-GRE) and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR). |
To summarise, territorial acute ischaemic stroke appears most of the time with hyperintensity on DWI and reduced ADC values, downstream of a clot, demonstrating low T2-GRE signal intensity, occluding an artery, as observed on TOF-MRA. Hyperintensity on FLAIR classically appears after 4.5 h. PWI makes it possible to distinguish ischaemic penumbra from the infarct core.If contrast-enhanced T1-WI were to be performed after PWI, it would never show parenchymal enhancement in the first few hours of stroke onset. If such enhancement was observed, an alternative diagnosis—a stroke mimic—should be considered. |
4 |
63. Ferguson GG, Eliasziw M, Barr HW, et al. The North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial : surgical results in 1415 patients. Stroke 1999;30:1751-8. |
Review/Other-Dx |
1415 patients |
To report the surgical results in those patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy in the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET). |
In 1415 patients there were 92 perioperative outcome events, for an overall rate of 6.5%. At 30 days the results were as follows: death, 1.1%; disabling stroke, 1.8%; and nondisabling stroke, 3.7%. At 90 days, because of improvement in the neurological status of patients judged to have been disabled at 30 days, the results were as follows: death, 1.1%; disabling stroke, 0.9%; and nondisabling stroke, 4.5%. Thirty events occurred intraoperatively; 62 were delayed. Most strokes resulted from thromboembolism. Five baseline variables were predictive of increased surgical risk: hemispheric versus retinal transient ischemic attack as the qualifying event, left-sided procedure, contralateral carotid occlusion, ipsilateral ischemic lesion on CT scan, and irregular or ulcerated ipsilateral plaque. History of coronary artery disease with prior cardiac procedure was associated with reduced risk. The risk of perioperative wound complications was 9.3%, and that of cranial nerve injuries was 8.6%; most were of mild severity. At 8 years, the risk of disabling ipsilateral stroke was 5.7%, and that of any ipsilateral stroke was 17.1%. |
4 |
64. Buon R, Guidolin B, Jaffre A, et al. Carotid Ultrasound for Assessment of Nonobstructive Carotid Atherosclerosis in Young Adults with Cryptogenic Stroke. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2018;27:1212-16. |
Observational-Dx |
148 patients |
To investigate the prevalence and the ultrasonic characteristics of NOCA in a consecutive series of young adults with cryptogenic stroke (CS). |
Of 148 patients with first-ever ischemic stroke, 70 had CS, including 44 patients with carotid CS. NOCA was found in 22 of 44 (50%) patients. All but 1 plaque were echolucent. NOCA was bilateral in 15 patients and unilateral in 7 patients. All unilateral plaques were on the symptomatic side (P = .02). Plaque thickness, plaque length, and plaque volume were greater on the symptomatic side than on the asymptomatic side (P = .001, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively). Discrimination between the symptomatic and the asymptomatic side using any of these plaque metrics was good with areas under the curve (95% confidence interval) of .82 (.69-0.95), .85 (.74-0.96), and .87 (.75-0.99) for plaque thickness, plaque length, and plaque volume, respectively. |
2 |
65. Desai SM, Haussen DC, Aghaebrahim A, et al. Thrombectomy 24 hours after stroke: beyond DAWN. J Neurointerv Surg. 10(11):1039-1042, 2018 Nov. |
Observational-Dx |
21 patients |
To sought to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients who met DAWN criteria but underwent thrombectomy beyond 24 hours of TLKW. |
Twenty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. Rates of successful reperfusion (mTICI2b-3: 81% vs 84%, P=0.72), 90-day functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2, 43% vs 48%, P=0.68), and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (5% vs 6%, P=0.87) were comparable across the two groups. |
2 |
66. Rice CM, Scolding NJ. The diagnosis of primary central nervous system vasculitis. Pract Neurol 2020;20:109-14. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To describe an approach to its diagnosis, emphasising the importance of obtaining tissue, and present for discussion a new, binary set of diagnostic criteria, dividing cases into only 'definite' primary CNS vasculitis, where tissue proof is available, and 'possible,' where it is not. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
67. Liebeskind DS, Jahan R, Nogueira RG, et al. Serial Alberta Stroke Program early CT score from baseline to 24 hours in Solitaire Flow Restoration with the Intention for Thrombectomy study: a novel surrogate end point for revascularization in acute stroke. Stroke. 45(3):723-7, 2014 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
139 patients |
To analyze change on serial ASPECTS at baseline and 24-hour imaging in the Solitaire Flow Restoration with the Intention for Thrombectomy (SWIFT) study to determine prognostic value and to identify subgroups with extensive injury after intervention. |
One hundred thirty-nine patients (mean age, 67 [SD, 12] years; 52% women; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 18 [interquartile range, 8-28]) with complete data at both time points were studied. Multivariate analyses showed that higher 24-hour ASPECTS predicted good clinical outcome (day 90 modified Rankin Scale, 0-2; odds ratio, 1.67; P<0.001). Among patients with high baseline ASPECTS (8-10; n=109), dramatic infarct progression (decrease in ASPECTS =6 points at 24 hours) was noted in 31 of 109 (28%). Such serial ASPECTS change was predicted by higher baseline systolic blood pressure (P=0.019), higher baseline blood glucose (P=0.133), and failure to achieve Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score of 2b/3 reperfusion (P<0.001), culminating in worse day 90 modified Rankin Scale outcomes (mean modified Rankin Scale, 4.4 versus 2.7; P<0.001). |
2 |
68. Renu A, Laredo C, Rodriguez-Vazquez A, et al. Characterization of Subarachnoid Hyperdensities After Thrombectomy for Acute Stroke Using Dual-Energy CT. Neurology 2022;98:e601-e11. |
Observational-Dx |
424 patients |
To assess the incidence, characteristics, clinical relevance, and predictors of SA-HD after MT as categorized through the use of postinterventional dual-energy CT (DE-CT). |
SA-HD were observed in 120 (28%) of the 424 included patients (isolated contrast extravasation n = 22, blood extravasation n = 98). In this group, SA-HD were diffuse in 72 (60%) patients (isolated contrast extravasation n = 7, blood extravasation n = 65) and nondiffuse in 48 (40%) patients (isolated contrast extravasation n = 15, blood extravasation n = 33). Diffuse SA-HD were significantly associated with worse clinical outcome in adjusted models (common odds ratio [cOR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.36-4.00, p = 0.002), unlike the specific SA-HD content alone. In contrast with the absence of SA-HD, only the diffuse pattern with blood extravasation was significantly associated with worse clinical outcome (cOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.36-4.15, p = 0.002). Diffuse SA-HD patterns were predicted by M2 occlusions, more thrombectomy passes, and concurrent parenchymal hematomas. |
2 |
69. Gutierrez J, Turan TN, Hoh BL, Chimowitz MI. Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. [Review]. Lancet Neurology. 21(4):355-368, 2022 04.Lancet neurol.. 21(4):355-368, 2022 04. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss the risk factors, diagnosis and treatment of Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis. |
No results stated in the abstract |
4 |
70. Anzalone N, Scomazzoni F, Castellano R, et al. Carotid artery stenosis: intraindividual correlations of 3D time-of-flight MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, conventional DSA, and rotational angiography for detection and grading. Radiology 2005;236:204-13. |
Observational-Dx |
49 patients |
To compare three-dimensional (3D) time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography, contrast-enhanced MR angiography, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and rotational angiography for depiction of stenosis. |
Ninety-eight ICAs were evaluated at contrast-enhanced MR angiography, DSA, and rotational angiography, and 97 were evaluated at 3D TOF MR angiography. Correlations for contrast-enhanced MR angiography, 3D TOF MR angiography, and DSA relative to rotational angiography were r2 = 0.9332, r2 = 0.9048, and r2 = 0.9255, respectively. Lower correlation (r2 = 0.8593) was noted for contrast-enhanced MR angiography and DSA. Respective sensitivity and specificity for detection of hemodynamically relevant stenosis relative to rotational angiography were 100% and 90% for contrast-enhanced MR angiography, 95.5% and 87.2% for 3D TOF MR angiography, and 88.6% and 100% for DSA. Four of 31 severe stenoses were underestimated at DSA, and three were underestimated at contrast-enhanced MR angiography. Three severe stenoses were underestimated at 3D TOF MR angiography, and one was misclassified as occluded. Of 13 moderate (50%-69%) stenoses, one was overestimated at contrast-enhanced MR angiography, two were underestimated and three overestimated at 3D TOF MR angiography, and two were underestimated at DSA. |
2 |
71. Yang CW, Carr JC, Futterer SF, et al. Contrast-enhanced MR angiography of the carotid and vertebrobasilar circulations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2005;26:2095-101. |
Observational-Dx |
40 patients |
To assess the sensitivity and specificity of CE MRA compared with digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for detection of vertebrobasilar disease. |
The sensitivity and specificity of MRA for detection of disease in the entire carotid and vertebrobasilar systems were 90% and 97%, respectively; for the carotid system alone, the sensitivity and specificity were 94% and 97%, respectively; and for the vertebrobasilar system they were 88% and 98% respectively. The overall interobserver reliability was 98% (kappa = 0.92). |
2 |
72. Asdaghi N, Hill MD, Coulter JI, et al. Perfusion MR predicts outcome in high-risk transient ischemic attack/minor stroke: a derivation-validation study. Stroke 2013;44:2486-92. |
Observational-Dx |
281 patients |
To discuss perfusion MR predicts outcome in high-risk transient ischemic attack/minor stroke: a derivation-validation study |
One hundred thirty-seven and 281 subjects were included in the derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Infarct growth occurred in 18.5% of the derivation and 5.5% of the validation cohorts. Symptom progression occurred in 9.5% of the derivation and 4.5% of the validation cohorts. In the derivation cohort, subjects with baseline mismatch were significantly more likely to show infarct growth on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (relative risk [RR], 13.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.2-38.9) and symptom progression (RR, 7.0; 95% CI, 2.0-7.3). A baseline mismatch volume of 10 mL in the derivation cohort was the optimal threshold to predict infarct growth (area under the curve, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80-0.98). This threshold was highly predictive of infarct growth in the validation cohort (P=0.001). Baseline mismatch was associated with clinical deterioration in the derivation (area under the curve, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67-0.96) and validation cohorts (area under the curve, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.85). |
2 |
73. Asdaghi N, Hameed B, Saini M, Jeerakathil T, Emery D, Butcher K. Acute perfusion and diffusion abnormalities predict early new MRI lesions 1 week after minor stroke and transient ischemic attack. Stroke 2011;42:2191-5. |
Observational-Dx |
28 patients |
To prospectively studied the correlation between baseline diffusion/perfusion deficits and development of new ischemic lesions |
Twenty-eight patients (56%) had acute DWI lesions. New DWI lesions developed in 9 of 50 patients (18%) at 1 week and 11 of 50 (cumulative 22%) at 4 weeks. Patients with new infarcts were more likely to have baseline DWI lesions (?²=8.264, P=0.003). Baseline DWI lesion volume was significantly larger in those who developed new lesions at Day 7 (median, 13.2 mL; interquartile range, 12 versus median 0.1 mL; interquartile range, 2 mL; P<0.001) and Day 30 (11.1 mL; interquartile range, 13 mL versus 0.1 mL; interquartile range, 13 mL; P<0.001). Thirty-eight patients had baseline perfusion-weighted imaging. Patients with recurrent lesions were more likely to have baseline perfusion deficits (?²=19.5, P<0.0001). All new lesions developed within the baseline hypoperfused regions. Baseline DWI lesion volume predicted new lesion development at day 7 (OR, 1.17 per mL; CI, 1.05 to 1.30; P=0.005) and Day 30 (OR, 1.39 per mL; CI, 1.03 to 1.26; P=0.009) by regression analysis. |
2 |
74. Burke JF, Kerber KA, Iwashyna TJ, Morgenstern LB. Wide variation and rising utilization of stroke magnetic resonance imaging: data from 11 states. Ann Neurol 2012;71:179-85. |
Observational-Dx |
624,842 patients |
To describe changes in MRI utilization from 1999 to 2008. |
A total of 624,842 patients were hospitalized for stroke in the period of interest. MRI utilization increased in all states. Overall, MRI absolute utilization increased 38%, and relative utilization increased 235% (28% of strokes in 1999 to 66% in 2008). Over the same interval, CT utilization changed little (92% in 1999 to 95% in 2008). MRI use varied widely by state. In 2008, MRI utilization ranged from a low of 55% of strokes in Oregon to a high of 79% in Arizona. Diagnostic imaging was the fastest growing component of total hospital costs (213% increase from 1999 to 2007). |
2 |
75. Burke JF, Gelb DJ, Quint DJ, Morgenstern LB, Kerber KA. The impact of MRI on stroke management and outcomes: a systematic review. J Eval Clin Pract 2013;19:987-93. |
Review/Other-Dx |
1813 articles |
To evaluate the evidence that conventional MRI influences doctor management or patient outcomes in routine care. |
Of 1813 articles screened, nine studies met inclusion criteria. None were randomized controlled trials, cohort studies or case-control studies. We found little evidence that MRI affects outcomes - one single-centre case series presented three patients. The remaining articles were studies of diagnostic tests or vignette-based studies that described changes in doctor management attributed to MRI. In the studies that suggested MRI influenced management, it did so in two ways. First, MRI distinguished stroke from mimics (e.g. brain tumours), thus enabling more appropriate selection of therapies. Second, even when MRI confirmed a suspected stroke diagnosis, it sometimes provided information (on stroke mechanism, localization, timing or pathophysiology) that influenced management. |
4 |
76. Hefzy H, Neil E, Penstone P, Mahan M, Mitsias P, Silver B. The Addition of MRI to CT Based Stroke and TIA Evaluation Does Not Impact One year Outcomes. Open Neurol J 2013;7:17-22. |
Observational-Dx |
727 patients |
To evaluate the variables that influenced one-year outcomes of stroke and TIA patients, including the type of imaging utilized. |
727 consecutive patients with a discharge diagnosis of stroke or TIA were identified (616 and 111 respectively); 536 had CT and MRI, 161 had CT alone, 29 had MRI alone, and one had no neuroimaging. On multiple logistic regression analysis, there were no differences in primary or secondary outcome measures among different imaging strategies. Predictors of the primary outcome measure included age and NIHSS, while performance of a CT angiogram (CTA) predicted a decreased odds of death, stroke, or MI. The strongest predictor of having an MRI was admission to a stroke unit. |
2 |
77. Smith-Bindman R, Kwan ML, Marlow EC, et al. Trends in Use of Medical Imaging in US Health Care Systems and in Ontario, Canada, 2000-2016. JAMA 2019;322:843-56. |
Review/Other-Dx |
21 million patients |
To evaluate recent trends in medical imaging. |
Overall, 135 774 532 imaging examinations were included; 5 439 874 (4%) in children, 89 635 312 (66%) in adults, and 40 699 346 (30%) in older adults. Among adults and older adults, imaging rates were significantly higher in 2016 vs 2000 for all imaging modalities other than nuclear medicine. For example, among older adults, CT imaging rates were 428 per 1000 person-years in 2016 vs 204 per 1000 in 2000 in US health care systems and 409 per 1000 vs 161 per 1000 in Ontario; for MRI, 139 per 1000 vs 62 per 1000 in the United States and 89 per 1000 vs 13 per 1000 in Ontario; and for ultrasound, 495 per 1000 vs 324 per 1000 in the United States and 580 per 1000 vs 332 per 1000 in Ontario. Annual growth in imaging rates among US adults and older adults slowed over time for CT (from an 11.6% annual percentage increase among adults and 9.5% among older adults in 2000-2006 to 3.7% among adults in 2013-2016 and 5.2% among older adults in 2014-2016) and for MRI (from 11.4% in 2000-2004 in adults and 11.3% in 2000-2005 in older adults to 1.3% in 2007-2016 in adults and 2.2% in 2005-2016 in older adults). Patterns in Ontario were similar. Among children, annual growth for CT stabilized or declined (United States: from 10.1% in 2000-2005 to 0.8% in 2013-2016; Ontario: from 3.3% in 2000-2006 to -5.3% in 2006-2016), but patterns for MRI were similar to adults. Changes in annual growth in ultrasound were smaller among adults and children in the United States and Ontario compared with CT and MRI. Nuclear medicine imaging declined in adults and children after 2006. |
4 |
78. Lee H, Yang Y, Liu B, Castro SA, Shi T. Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Who Receive Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Demonstrate Favorable In-Hospital Outcomes. J Am Heart Assoc 2020;9:e016987. |
Observational-Dx |
94 003 patients |
We examined whether inpatient brain MRI in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with improved clinical outcomes to justify its resource requirements. |
The National Inpatient Sample database was queried retrospectively to find 94 003 patients who were admitted for acute ischemic stroke and then received inpatient brain MRI between 2012 and 2014. Multivariable regression analysis was performed with respect to a control group to assess for differences in the rates of inpatient mortality and complications, as well as the length and cost of hospital stay based on brain MRI use. Inpatient brain MRI was independently associated with lower rates of inpatient mortality (1.67% versus 3.09%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% CI, 0.53-0.68; P<0.001), gastrostomy (2.28% versus 2.89%; adjusted OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73-0.93; P<0.001), and mechanical ventilation (1.97% versus 2.82%; adjusted OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.60-0.77; P<0.001). Brain MRI was independently associated with ˜0.32 days (8%) and $1131 (11%) increase in the total length (P<0.001) and cost (P<0.001) of hospital stay, respectively. Conclusions Inpatient brain MRI in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with substantial decrease in the rates of inpatient mortality and complications, at the expense of marginally increased length and cost of hospitalization. |
2 |
79. Cabral Frade H, Wilson SE, Beckwith A, Powers WJ. Comparison of Outcomes of Ischemic Stroke Initially Imaged With Cranial Computed Tomography Alone vs Computed Tomography Plus Magnetic Resonance Imaging. JAMA netw. open. 5(7):e2219416, 2022 07 01. |
Observational-Dx |
508 patients |
To assess whether clinical outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke with initial CT alone were noninferior to those with additional MRI. |
Among 246 participants, the median age was 68 years (IQR, 58-78.8 years) and 131 (53.0%) were men. Death or dependence at discharge occurred more often in patients with additional MRI (59 of 123 [48.0%]) than in those with CT alone (52 of 123 [42.3%]; absolute difference, 5.7%; 95% CI, -6.7% to 18.1%), meeting the -7.50% criterion for noninferiority. Stroke or death within 1 year after discharge determined for 225 of 235 (96%) survivors occurred more often in patients with additional MRI (22 of 113 [19.5%]) than in those with CT alone (14 of 112 [12.5%]; relative risk, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.86-1.50), meeting the 0.725 relative risk criterion for noninferiority. |
2 |
80. Birmpili P, Porter L, Shaikh U, Torella F. Comparison of Measurement and Grading of Carotid Stenosis with Computed Tomography Angiography and Doppler Ultrasound. Ann Vasc Surg. 51:217-224, 2018 Aug. |
Observational-Dx |
100 patients |
To test the accuracy and reproducibility of CTA-derived measurements of carotid stenosis and compare them with those obtained by DUS. |
The interobserver agreement was moderate (? 0.407, weighted-? 0.517) for the manual method and good (? 0.786, weighted-? 0.842) for the semi-automated method. Using DUS as the gold standard, the semi-automated method had greater sensitivity (75%) and specificity (91%) in detecting clinically significant carotid artery stenosis (=50%) than the manual one (63% and 86%, respectively). Agreement between DUS and the semi-automated method of CTA reporting was moderate (? 0.453, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.320-0.586, weighted-? 0.598, 95% CI: 0.486-0.710), whereas DUS and the manual method of CTA reporting had only fair agreement (? 0.344, 95% CI: 0.209-0.478, weighted-? 0.446, 95% CI: 0.315-0.577). |
2 |
81. Gupta A, Baradaran H, Mtui EE, et al. Detection of Symptomatic Carotid Plaque Using Source Data from MR and CT Angiography: A Correlative Study. Cerebrovasc Dis. 39(3-4):151-61, 2015. |
Observational-Dx |
1994 patients |
To study the correlation and relative diagnostic accuracies of CT angiography (CTA) and MR angiography (MRA) source images in detecting symptomatic carotid artery plaque. |
Of 1994 screened patients, 48 arteries met the final inclusion criteria with MRA and CTA performed within 10 days of one another. The mean and median time between CTA and MRA exams were 2.0 days and 1 day, respectively. A total of 34 of 48 stenotic vessels (70.8%) were responsible for giving rise to ipsilateral stroke or TIA. CTA mean soft plaque thickness was significantly greater (4.47 vs. 2.30 mm, p < 0.0001) in patients with MRA-defined IHIS, while CTA hard plaque thickness was significantly greater (2.09 vs. 1.16 mm, p = 0.0134) in patients without MRA evidence of IHIS. CTA soft plaque thickness measurements were more sensitive than MRA IHIS (91.2 vs. 67.6%, p = 0.011) in detecting symptomatic plaque, while differences in specificity were not significantly different (p = 0.1573). In the subset of patients with both IHIS on MRA and plaque thickness >2.4 mm on CTA, the odds ratio of detecting symptomatic plaque, corrected for stenosis severity, was 45.3 (p < 0.0005). |
1 |
82. Mac Grory B, Emmer BJ, Roosendaal SD, Zagzag D, Yaghi S, Nossek E. Carotid web: an occult mechanism of embolic stroke. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020;91:1283-89. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss the Carotid web: an occult mechanism of embolic stroke. |
No results stated in the abstract |
4 |
83. Freilinger TM, Schindler A, Schmidt C, et al. Prevalence of nonstenosing, complicated atherosclerotic plaques in cryptogenic stroke. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2012;5:397-405. |
Observational-Dx |
32 patients |
To assess the prevalence of complicated American Heart Association (AHA) lesion type VI plaques in the carotid arteries of patients with cryptogenic stroke. |
AHA type VI plaques were found in 12 of 32 arteries (37.5%) ipsilateral to the stroke, whereas there were no AHA type VI plaques contralateral to the stroke (p = 0.001). The most common diagnostic feature of AHA type VI plaques was intraplaque hemorrhage (75%), followed by fibrous plaque rupture (50%) and luminal thrombus (33%). |
2 |
84. Sun J, Yuan C. Seeking culprit lesions in cryptogenic stroke: the utility of vessel wall imaging. J Am Heart Assoc 2015;4:002207. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss culprit lesions in cryptogenic stroke: the utility of vessel wall imaging. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
85. Gupta A, Gialdini G, Lerario MP, et al. Magnetic resonance angiography detection of abnormal carotid artery plaque in patients with cryptogenic stroke. J Am Heart Assoc. 4(6):e002012, 2015 Jun 15. |
Observational-Dx |
27 patients |
To assess whether the magnetic resonance angiography-defined presence of intraplaque high-intensity signal (IHIS), a marker of intraplaque hemorrhage, is associated with ipsilateral cryptogenic stroke. |
Cryptogenic stroke patients with magnetic resonance imaging evidence of unilateral anterior circulation infarction and without hemodynamically significant (=50%) stenosis of the cervical carotid artery were identified from a prospective stroke registry at a tertiary-care hospital. High-risk plaque was assessed by evaluating for IHIS on routine magnetic resonance angiography source images using a validated technique. To compare the presence of IHIS on the ipsilateral versus contralateral side within individual patients, we used McNemar's test for correlated proportions. A total of 54 carotid arteries in 27 unique patients were included. A total of 6 patients (22.2%) had IHIS-positive nonstenosing carotid plaque ipsilateral to the side of ischemic stroke compared to 0 patients who had IHIS-positive carotid plaques contralateral to the side of stroke (P=0.01). Stroke severity measures, diagnostic evaluations, and prevalence of vascular risk factors were not different between the IHIS-positive and IHIS-negative groups. |
2 |
86. Meretoja A, Strbian D, Putaala J, et al. SMASH-U: a proposal for etiologic classification of intracerebral hemorrhage. Stroke 2012;43:2592-7. |
Review/Other-Dx |
1013 patients |
To provide a simple and practical clinical classification for the etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). |
Structural lesions, namely cavernomas and arteriovenous malformations, caused 5% of the ICH, anticoagulation 14%, and systemic disease 5% (23 liver cirrhosis, 8 thrombocytopenia, and 17 various rare conditions). Amyloid angiopathy (20%) and hypertensive angiopathy (35%) were common, but etiology remained undetermined in 21%. Interrater agreement in classifying cases was high (?, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.96). Patients with structural lesions had the smallest hemorrhages (median volume, 2.8 mL) and best prognosis (3-month mortality 4%), whereas anticoagulation-related ICHs were largest (13.4 mL) and most often fatal (54%). Overall, median ICH survival was 5½ years, varying strongly by etiology (P<0.001). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, patients with structural lesions had the lowest 3-month mortality rates (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.37) and those with anticoagulation (OR, 1.9; 1.0-3.6) or other systemic cause (OR, 4.0; 1.6-10.1) the highest. |
4 |
87. Charidimou A, Boulouis G, Frosch MP, et al. The Boston criteria version 2.0 for cerebral amyloid angiopathy: a multicentre, retrospective, MRI-neuropathology diagnostic accuracy study. Lancet Neurol 2022;21:714-25. |
Observational-Dx |
15, 2017, patient |
To report an international collaborative study aiming to update and externally validate the Boston diagnostic criteria across the full spectrum of clinical CAA presentations. |
The study protocol was finalised on Jan 15, 2017, patient identification was completed on Dec 31, 2018, and imaging analyses were completed on Sept 30, 2019. Of 401 potentially eligible patients presenting to Massachusetts General Hospital, 218 were eligible to be included in the analysis; of 160 patient datasets from other centres, 123 were included. Using the derivation cohort, we derived provisional criteria for probable CAA requiring the presence of at least two strictly lobar haemorrhagic lesions (ie, intracerebral haemorrhages, cerebral microbleeds, or foci of cortical superficial siderosis) or at least one strictly lobar haemorrhagic lesion and at least one white matter characteristic (ie, severe visible perivascular spaces in centrum semiovale or white matter hyperintensities in a multispot pattern). The sensitivity and specificity of these criteria were 74·8% (95% CI 65·4-82·7) and 84·6% (71·9-93·1) in the derivation cohort, 92·5% (79·6-98·4) and 89·5% (66·9-98·7) in the temporal validation cohort, 80·2% (70·8-87·6) and 81·5% (61·9-93·7) in the geographical validation cohort, and 74·5% (65·4-82·4) and 95·0% (83·1-99·4) in all patients who had autopsy as the diagnostic standard. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0·797 (0·732-0·861) in the derivation cohort, 0·910 (0·828-0·992) in the temporal validation cohort, 0·808 (0·724-0·893) in the geographical validation cohort, and 0·848 (0·794-0·901) in patients who had autopsy as the diagnostic standard. The v2.0 Boston criteria for probable CAA had superior accuracy to the current Boston criteria (sensitivity 64·5% [54·9-73·4]; specificity 95·0% [83·1-99·4]; AUC 0·798 [0·741-0854]; p=0·0005 for comparison of AUC) across all individuals who had autopsy as the diagnostic standard. |
2 |
88. Zhu XL, Chan MS, Poon WS. Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage: which patients need diagnostic cerebral angiography? A prospective study of 206 cases and review of the literature. Stroke 1997;28:1406-9. |
Observational-Dx |
206 patients |
To correlate the angiographic findings with these three factors. |
Angiographic yield (the frequency of positive angiography in a defined patient group) was significantly higher in patients (1) at or below the median age of 45 than those above (53/105, 50%, versus 18/101, 18%; P < .001) and (2) without preexisting hypertension than those with (64/145, 44%, versus 5/58, 9%; P < .001). The correlation of age and preexisting hypertension to angiographic yield was independent (logistic regression coefficients -0.056 and -1.59 and SE 0.12 and 0.515, respectively, both P < .001). In patients of the younger age group without preexisting hypertension, angiographic yield was 48% in putaminal, thalamic, or posterior fossa ICH and 65% in lobar ICH. In the older hypertensive patients, the yields were 0% and 10%, respectively. However, in patients with isolated intraventricular hemorrhage, most were normotensive and the yield was high in both age groups (67% versus 63%). |
2 |
89. van Asch CJ, Velthuis BK, Rinkel GJ, et al. Diagnostic yield and accuracy of CT angiography, MR angiography, and digital subtraction angiography for detection of macrovascular causes of intracerebral haemorrhage: prospective, multicentre cohort study. BMJ 2015;351:h5762. |
Observational-Dx |
298 patients |
To discuss the diagnostic yield and accuracy of CT angiography, MR angiography, and digital subtraction angiography for detection of macrovascular causes of intracerebral haemorrhage |
A macrovascular cause was identified in 69 patients (23%). 291 patients (98%) underwent CT angiography; 214 with a negative result underwent additional MRI/MRA and 97 with a negative result for both CT angiography and MRI/MRA underwent DSA. Early CT angiography detected 51 macrovascular causes (yield 17%, 95% confidence interval 13% to 22%). CT angiography with MRI/MRA identified two additional macrovascular causes (18%, 14% to 23%) and these modalities combined with DSA another 15 (23%, 18% to 28%). This last extensive strategy failed to detect a cavernoma, which was identified on MRI during follow-up (reference strategy). The positive predictive value of CT angiography was 72% (60% to 82%), of additional MRI/MRA was 35% (14% to 62%), and of additional DSA was 100% (75% to 100%). None of the patients experienced complications with CT angiography or MRI/MRA; 0.6% of patients who underwent DSA experienced permanent sequelae. Not all patients with negative CT angiography and MRI/MRA results underwent DSA. Although the previous probability of finding a macrovascular cause was lower in patients who did not undergo DSA, some small arteriovenous malformations or dural arteriovenous fistulas may have been missed. |
1 |
90. Hino A, Fujimoto M, Yamaki T, Iwamoto Y, Katsumori T. Value of repeat angiography in patients with spontaneous subcortical hemorrhage. Stroke 1998;29:2517-21. |
Observational-Dx |
137 patients |
To investigate patients with subcortical hemorrhage with use of repeat angiography and MRI to determine the incidence of occult vascular malformations and the risk of bleeding during follow-up. |
One hundred seven patients (78%) underwent angiography on admission, 10 (7%) had immediate surgery for hematoma without angiography, and 20 (15%) had neither angiography nor surgery. Overall, an etiology for the hemorrhage was found in 55 cases (40%). Vascular malformations were common in young patients without preexisting hypertension. A second angiogram was obtained in 22 patients, and 4 arteriovenous malformations were demonstrated. Rebleeding at the site of the initial hemorrhage was not observed after a mean follow-up of 68 months. |
4 |
91. Cheong E, Toner P, Dowie G, Jannes J, Kleinig T. Evaluation of a CTA-Triage Based Transient Ischemic Attack Service: A Retrospective Single Center Cohort Study. J STROKE CEREBROVASC DIS. 27(12):3436-3442, 2018 Dec. |
Observational-Dx |
1167 patients |
To design a computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based algorithm for patients presenting to hospital with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) which identified high-risk patients, as well as inpatient versus semiurgent outpatient management following MRI, and we hypothesised that this would be effective. |
1167 patients were diagnosed in Emergency as TIA and referred via our algorithm. A total of 150 were admitted, 78 had "high-risk" features. A total of 1017 patients were reviewed in the TIA clinic. The average age of the total cohort was 65.8 years old. Final diagnosis was TIA/minor stroke in 69% admitted patients and 30% clinic patients (P value < .0001). The 90-day recurrent stroke risk in these patients was 2.0% (5.8% admitted vs .7% clinic patients, P value < .0001). In those with noncerebrovascular diagnoses, there were no recurrent strokes within 90 days. |
2 |
92. Delgado Almandoz JE, Schaefer PW, Forero NP, Falla JR, Gonzalez RG, Romero JM. Diagnostic accuracy and yield of multidetector CT angiography in the evaluation of spontaneous intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2009;30:1213-21. |
Observational-Dx |
623 patients |
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and yield of MDCTA for the detection of vascular etiologies in adult patients presenting to the emergency department with IPH. |
MDCTA demonstrated a vascular etiology in 91 patients (14.6%), with a sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 99%, and diagnostic accuracy of 98%. We found independent, statistically significant higher yields of MDCTA in patients with the following characteristics: 1) age younger than 46 years (47%); 2) lobar (20%) or infratentorial (16%) IPH, especially lobar IPH with associated intraventricular hemorrhage (25%); 3) female sex (18%); or 4) neither known hypertension nor impaired coagulation at presentation (33%). |
1 |
93. Josephson CB, White PM, Krishan A, Al-Shahi Salman R. Computed tomography angiography or magnetic resonance angiography for detection of intracranial vascular malformations in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;2014:CD009372. |
Observational-Dx |
11 patients |
To evaluate the diagnostic test accuracy of CTA and MRA versus IADSA for the detection of intracranial vascular malformations as a cause of ICH. |
Eleven studies (n = 927 participants) met our inclusion criteria. Eight studies compared CTA with IADSA (n = 526) and three studies compared MRA with IADSA (n = 401). Methodological quality varied considerably among studies, with partial verification bias in 7/11 (64%) and retrospective designs in 5/10 (50%). In studies of CTA, the pooled estimate of sensitivity was 0.95 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90 to 0.97) and specificity was 0.99 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.00). The results remained robust in a sensitivity analysis in which only studies evaluating adult patients (= 16 years of age) were included. In studies of MRA, the pooled estimate of sensitivity was 0.98 (95% CI 0.80 to 1.00) and specificity was 0.99 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.00). An indirect comparison of CTA and MRA using a bivariate model incorporating test type as one of the parameters failed to reveal a statistically significant difference in sensitivity or specificity between the two imaging modalities (P value = 0.6). |
2 |
94. Mechtouff L, Boussel L, Cakmak S, et al. Multilevel assessment of atherosclerotic extent using a 40-section multidetector scanner after transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 35(3):568-72, 2014 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
91 patients |
- To assess the potential of MDCT with a CTA examination of the aorta and the coronary, cervical, and intracranial vessels in the etiologic work-up of TIA or ischemic stroke compared with established imaging methods.- To assess the atherosclerotic extent by use of MDCT in these patients. |
There were 91 patients who had an interpretable MDCT. Mean age was 67.4 years (± 11 years), and 75 patients (83.3%) were men. The prevalence of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 atherosclerotic levels was 48.3%, 35.2%, 12.1%, 4.4%, and 0%, respectively. Aortic arch atheroma was found in 47.6% of patients with 1 atherosclerotic level. The combination of aortic arch atheroma and cervical stenosis was found in 63.6% of patients with = 2 atherosclerotic levels. Patients with = 2 atherosclerotic levels were older than patients with < 2 atherosclerotic levels (P = .04) in univariate analysis. |
2 |
95. Delgado Almandoz JE, Yoo AJ, Stone MJ, et al. The spot sign score in primary intracerebral hemorrhage identifies patients at highest risk of in-hospital mortality and poor outcome among survivors. Stroke. 2010;41(1):54-60. |
Observational-Dx |
573 consecutive patients; 3 reviewers |
Retrospective study to assess whether the spot sign score can be used to identify primary ICH patients who are at highest risk of in-hospital mortality and poor outcome among survivors at 3-month follow-up. |
Spot signs identified in 133/573 CT angiograms (23.2%), 11 of which were delayed spot signs (8.3%). The presence of any spot sign increased the risk of in-hospital mortality (55.6%, OR 4.0, 95% CI, 2.6 to 5.9, P<0.0001) and poor outcome among survivors at 3-month follow-up (50.8%, OR 2.5, 95% CI, 1.4 to 4.3, P<0.0014). Spot sign score successfully predicted an escalating risk of both outcome measures. In multivariate analysis, the spot sign score was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality (OR 1.5, 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.9, P<0.0002) and poor outcome among survivors at 3-month follow-up (OR 1.6, 95% CI, 1.1 to 2.1, P<0.0065). The spot sign score is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality and poor outcome among survivors in primary ICH. |
3 |
96. Kamel H, Navi BB, Hemphill JC, 3rd. A rule to identify patients who require magnetic resonance imaging after intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care 2013;18:59-63. |
Observational-Dx |
148 patients |
To hypothesize that a clinical decision rule based on these Hong Kong criteria would reliably identify patients who require MRI after ICH. |
The original Hong Kong rule applied to 102 of the 148 patients in our cohort (69%), and would have recommended MRI in 25 of 27 patients with diagnostic MRI studies (93%, 95% CI 76-99%). The modified rule applied to 110 patients (74%), and would have recommended MRI in all 27 patients with diagnostic MRI studies (100%, 95% CI 91-100%). |
1 |
97. Dylewski DA, Demchuk AM, Morgenstern LB. Utility of magnetic resonance imaging in acute intracerebral hemorrhage. J Neuroimaging 2000;10:78-83. |
Observational-Dx |
291 patients |
To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during acute hospitalization for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) provides new diagnostic information. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
2 |
98. Wijman CA, Venkatasubramanian C, Bruins S, Fischbein N, Schwartz N. Utility of early MRI in the diagnosis and management of acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Cerebrovasc Dis 2010;30:456-63. |
Observational-Dx |
123 patients |
To assess the utility of early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in ICH diagnosis and management. |
Mean time to MRI was 3 ± 5 days. Final ICH diagnosis was hypertension or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in 50% of patients. After MRI review the stroke neurologist changed diagnostic category in 14%, diagnostic confidence in an additional 23% and management in 20%, and the general neurologist did so in 19, 21 and 21% of patients, respectively. MRI yield was highest in ICH secondary to ischemic stroke, CAA, vascular malformations and neoplasms, and did not differ by age, history of hypertension, hematoma location or the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage. |
2 |
99. Saposnik G, Barinagarrementeria F, Brown RD, Jr., et al. Diagnosis and management of cerebral venous thrombosis: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2011;42:1158-92. |
Review/Other-Tx |
N/A |
To provide an overview of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and to provide recommendations for its diagnosis, management, and treatment. |
No results stated in abstract |
4 |
100. Gupta RK, Bapuraj JR, Khandelwal N, Khurana D. Prognostic indices for cerebral venous thrombosis on CT perfusion: a prospective study. Eur J Radiol. 83(1):185-90, 2014 Jan. |
Observational-Dx |
20 patients |
To determine the prognostic significance of CT perfusion characteristics of patients with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and assessed the change in perfusion parameters following anticoagulation therapy. |
All patients in this study showed areas of hypoperfusion on CT perfusion. To determine the favorable clinical outcome on basis of perfusion parameters, ROC curve analysis was performed which showed that the optimal threshold for rCBF>60.5%, rCBV>75.5%, and rMTT<148.5% correlated with better clinical outcomes. Post treatment perfusion parameters showed significant correlation in core of the lesion (p<0.05) than in the periphery. |
3 |
101. Ozsvath RR, Casey SO, Lustrin ES, Alberico RA, Hassankhani A, Patel M. Cerebral venography: comparison of CT and MR projection venography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1997;169:1699-707. |
Observational-Dx |
24 patients |
To show equivalence or superiority of CT venography compared with the existing test of choice--MR venography--in the evaluation of dural sinus thrombosis and in the identification of cerebral veins and dural sinuses. |
Using MR venography, the two radiologists diagnosed dural sinus thrombosis in eight of the 17 patients with suspected dural sinus thrombosis. In these eight patients, the diagnosis was also made with CT venography. The diagnosis was confirmed by follow-up CT in four patients and by follow-up MR imaging in two patients. The MIP algorithm did not allow direct visualization of thrombus by either the CT or the MR imaging technique; however, the CT integral display algorithm enabled direct visualization of thrombus on the three-dimensional projection venograms. The systematic comparison of imaging techniques showed that CT venography reliably reveals all cerebral veins and sinuses when they are seen with MR venography. In addition, CT venography more frequently visualizes sinuses or smaller cerebral veins with low flow as compared with MR venography. |
3 |
102. Liang L, Korogi Y, Sugahara T, et al. Evaluation of the intracranial dural sinuses with a 3D contrast-enhanced MP-RAGE sequence: prospective comparison with 2D-TOF MR venography and digital subtraction angiography. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2001;22:481-92. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To compare 3D contrast-enhanced magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo (MP-RAGE) sequences with 2D time-of-flight (TOF) MR venography, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), and conventional spin-echo (SE) MR imaging for the assessment of normal and abnormal dural sinuses. |
With the phantom, the SNR of flow increased with increasing contrast concentration, but was not affected by the angle between the tube and scan slab. There was no relationship between SNR and velocity when the contrast concentration was 1.0 mmol/L or greater. In the clinical study, dural sinus thrombosis as well as the normal anatomy of the dural sinuses were seen better with 3D contrast-enhanced MP-RAGE than with 2D-TOF MR venography. Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced MP-RAGE showed the highest diagnostic confidence on ROC curves in the diagnosis of thrombosis. |
4 |
103. Yang Q, Duan J, Fan Z, et al. Early Detection and Quantification of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis by Magnetic Resonance Black-Blood Thrombus Imaging. Stroke. 47(2):404-9, 2016 Feb. |
Observational-Dx |
23 patients |
To propos a novel magnetic resonance black-blood thrombus imaging technique (MRBTI) for detection and quantification of CVT. |
In 23 patients with proven CVT, MRBTI correctly identified 113 of 116 segments with a sensitivity of 97.4%. Thrombus signal/noise ratio was 153±57 and 261±95 for group 1 (n=10) and group 2 (n=13), respectively (P<0.01). Thrombus to lumen contrast/noise ratio was 149±57 and 256±94 for group 1 and group 2, respectively. Thrombus to brain tissue contrast/noise ratio was 41±36 and 120±63 (P<0.01), respectively. Quantification of thrombus volume was successfully conducted in all patients with CVT, and mean volume of thrombus was 10.5±6.9 mL. |
2 |
104. Sari S, Verim S, Hamcan S, et al. MRI diagnosis of dural sinus - Cortical venous thrombosis: Immediate post-contrast 3D GRE T1-weighted imaging versus unenhanced MR venography and conventional MR sequences. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 134:44-54, 2015 Jul. |
Observational-Dx |
30 patients |
To compare the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced 3D GRE T1-weighted sequences with unenhanced MR venography and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in detection of dural venous sinus (DVS) and cortical venous thrombosis; secondary aim is to determine the relationship between DVS thrombosis/site and gender, age, infarction or hemorrhage. |
Final diagnosis of cortical venous and/or dural sinus thrombosis was established in 24 (80%) of 30 cases and 67 (22.3%) out of 300 segments. For detection of the thrombotic segment, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.6%, 95.3%, and 92.7% by conventional MR sequences, 89.6%, 91.8%, and 91.3% byunenhanced MR venography, and 92.5%, 100%, and 98.3% by contrast-enhanced 3D GRE T1-weighted sequence, respectively. Infarction and hemorrhage were more frequent in cases with cortical venous thrombosis, while gender and age had no significant relation with DVS thrombosis or its site. ConventionalMR sequences and unenhanced MR venography were helpful due to additional information they provided in some cases with isolated cortical venous thrombosis, with hyperintense thrombus material and with associated hemorrhage or infarction. |
2 |
105. Ferro JM, Bousser MG, Canhao P, et al. European Stroke Organization guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of cerebral venous thrombosis - endorsed by the European Academy of Neurology. Eur J Neurol 2017;24:1203-13. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To update the previous European Federation of Neurological Societies guidelines using a clearer and evidence-based methodology. |
We suggest using magnetic resonance or computed tomographic angiography for confirming the diagnosis of CVT and not routinely screening patients with CVT for thrombophilia or cancer. We recommend parenteral anticoagulation in acute CVT and decompressive surgery to prevent death due to brain herniation. We suggest preferentially using low-molecular-weight heparin in the acute phase and not direct oral anticoagulants. We suggest not using steroids and acetazolamide to reduce death or dependency. We suggest using antiepileptics in patients with an early seizure and supratentorial lesions to prevent further early seizures. We could not make recommendations concerning duration of anticoagulation after the acute phase, thrombolysis and/or thrombectomy, therapeutic lumbar puncture, and prevention of remote seizures with antiepileptic drugs. We suggest that, in women who have suffered a previous CVT, contraceptives containing oestrogens should be avoided. We suggest that subsequent pregnancies are safe, but use of prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparin should be considered throughout pregnancy and puerperium. |
4 |
106. Khandelwal N, Agarwal A, Kochhar R, et al. Comparison of CT venography with MR venography in cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006;187(6):1637-1643. |
Observational-Dx |
50 patients |
To compare cerebral CT venography with MR venography and determine the reliability of CT venography in the diagnosis of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. |
Of these 50 patients, 30 patients were diagnosed as having cerebral sinovenous thrombosis on both CT venography and MR venography. The total numbers of sinuses involved were 81 and 77 (CT venography and MR venography). When MR venography was used as the gold standard, CT venography was found to have both a sensitivity and a specificity of 75%–100%, depending on the sinus and vein involved. |
2 |
107. Knapp A, Cetrullo V, Sillars BA, Lenzo N, Davis WA, Davis TM. Carotid artery ultrasonographic assessment in patients from the Fremantle Diabetes Study Phase II with carotid bruits detected by electronic auscultation. Diabetes Technol Ther. 16(9):604-10, 2014 Sep. |
Observational-Dx |
153,000 patients |
To determine whether carotid bruits detected by electronic stethoscope in patients with diabetes are associated with stenoses and increased carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT). |
Patients with a bruit were more likely to have stenosis of =50% and CIMT of >1.0 mm than those without (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals]=14.0 [1.8-106.5] and 5.3 [1.8-15.3], respectively; both P=0.001). For the six patients with stenosis of =70%, five had a bruit, and one (with a known total occlusion) did not (odds ratio=5.0 [0.6-42.8]; P=0.22). The sensitivity and specificity of carotid bruit for stenoses of =50% were 88% and 58%, respectively; respective values for stenoses of =70% were 83% and 52%. The equivalent negative predictive values were 96% and 98%, and positive predictive values were 30% and 10%, respectively. |
2 |
108. Lal BK, Meschia JF, Brott TG. Clinical need, design, and goals for the Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis trial. Semin Vasc Surg 2017;30:2-7. |
Experimental-Dx |
214 patients |
To discuss the clinical need, design, and goals for the Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis trial |
Despite the challenges faced by CREST-2, site-selection, operator and stent versus OR selection, site initiation, core facility operations, and data-management functions are now fully operational. It is unlikely that there will be a similar opportunity to demonstrate the risks and benefits of IMT, with or without revascularization, for patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis in the foreseeable future. We hope that the medical community will appreciate the importance of the trial, and either |
1 |
109. Keyhani S, Cheng EM, Hoggatt KJ, et al. Comparative Effectiveness of Carotid Endarterectomy vs Initial Medical Therapy in Patients With Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis. JAMA Neurol 2020;77:1110-21. |
Observational-Dx |
5221 patients |
To examine whether early intervention (CEA) was superior to initial medical therapy in real-world practice in preventing fatal and nonfatal strokes among patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis. |
Of the total 5221 patients, 2712 (51.9%; mean [SD] age, 73.6 [6.0] years; 2678 men [98.8%]) received CEA and 2509 (48.1%; mean [SD] age, 73.6 [6.0] years; 2479 men [98.8%]) received initial medical therapy within 1 year after the index carotid imaging. The observed rate of stroke or death (perioperative complications) within 30 days in the CEA cohort was 2.5% (95% CI, 2.0%-3.1%). The 5-year risk of fatal and nonfatal strokes was lower among patients randomized to CEA compared with patients randomized to initial medical therapy (5.6% vs 7.8%; risk difference, -2.3%; 95% CI, -4.0% to -0.3%). In an analysis that incorporated the competing risk of death, the risk difference between the 2 cohorts was lower and not statistically significant (risk difference, -0.8%; 95% CI, -2.1% to 0.5%). Among patients who met RCT inclusion criteria, the 5-year risk of fatal and nonfatal strokes was 5.5% (95% CI, 4.5%-6.5%) among patients randomized to CEA and was 7.6% (95% CI, 5.7%-9.5%) among those randomized to initial medical therapy (risk difference, -2.1%; 95% CI, -4.4% to -0.2%). Accounting for competing risks resulted in a risk difference of -0.9% (95% CI, -2.9% to 0.7%) that was not statistically significant. |
2 |
110. Kim HW, Regenhardt RW, D'Amato SA, et al. Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis: a summary of current state of evidence for revascularization and emerging high-risk features. J Neurointerv Surg 2022. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To discuss the summary of current state of evidence for revascularization and emerging high-risk features. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
111. Meschia JF, Bushnell C, Boden-Albala B, et al. Guidelines for the primary prevention of stroke: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke 2014;45:3754-832. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To provide comprehensive and timely evidence-based recommendations on the prevention of stroke among individuals who have not previously experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack. |
No results in the abstract. |
4 |
112. Paraskevas KI, Mikhailidis DP, Antignani PL, et al. Comparison of Recent Practice Guidelines for the Management of Patients With Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis. Angiology 2022;73:903-10. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To compare 3 recently released guidelines (the 2020 German-Austrian, the 2021 European Stroke Organization [ESO], and the 2021 Society for Vascular Surgery [SVS] guidelines) vs the 2017 European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS) guidelines regarding the optimal management of AsxCS patients |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
113. Johansson E, Benhabib H, Herod W, et al. Carotid near-occlusion can be identified with ultrasound by low flow velocity distal to the stenosis. Acta Radiol. 60(3):396-404, 2019 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
60 patients |
To study whether the velocity distal to the stenosis can separate high PSV near-occlusion from conventional = 50% stenosis. |
Sixty patients were included: 33 patients with conventional stenosis; 20 patients with NwoC; and seven patients with NwC. Mean distal PSV was 93, 63, and 21 cm/s ( P < 0.001) and mean distal end-diastolic velocity was 30, 24, and 5 cm/s ( P < 0.001), respectively. A distal PSV < 50 cm/s was 63% sensitive and 94% specific for separating both types of near-occlusion from conventional stenosis. |
2 |
114. Shen S, Jiang X, Dong H, et al. Effect of aortic arch type on technical indicators in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting. J Int Med Res. 47(2):682-688, 2019 Feb. |
Observational-Dx |
224 patients |
To perform to explore the effect of the aortic arch type on technical indicators in patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS). |
The fluoroscopy time was significantly longer and the contrast agent dose was significantly higher in patients with Type III than Type I and II arches. Significantly more patients with Type III than Type I and II arches required placement of the guiding catheter with assistance of an angiographic catheter (46.2% vs. 15.0%, respectively). The procedural success rate was significantly lower in patients with Type III than Type I and II arches (96.2% vs. 100.0%, respectively). The incidence of death, myocardial infarction, and all types of stroke was significantly higher in patients with Type III than Type I and II arches (7.7% vs. 1.7%, respectively). |
4 |
115. Koskinen SM, Silvennoinen H, Ijas P, et al. Recognizing subtle near-occlusion in carotid stenosis patients: a computed tomography angiographic study. Neuroradiology. 59(4):353-359, 2017 Apr. |
Observational-Dx |
467 patients |
To investigate the prevalence of near-occlusion among CS patients using a single standard criterion to facilitate its recognition, even when distal ICA LD reduction is not visually evident in computed tomography angiography (CTA). |
We discovered 126 near-occlusions fulfilling our criterion of ipsilateral near-occlusion: the mean LD side-to-side difference (mm) with 95% confidence interval being 1.8 (1.6, 1.9) and a standard deviation of 0.8 mm. Among the 233 cases not meeting our near-occlusion criterion, we found 140 moderate (50-69%) and 93 severe (70-99%) ipsilateral stenoses. |
2 |
116. Korn A, Bender B, Brodoefel H, et al. Grading of carotid artery stenosis in the presence of extensive calcifications: dual-energy CT angiography in comparison with contrast-enhanced MR angiography. Clin Neuroradiol. 25(1):33-40, 2015 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
21 patients |
To investigated the agreement of dual-energy computed tomography angiography (DE-CTA) and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CE-MRA)in the quantitative measurement of stenoses of the internal carotid artery in comparison with digital subtraction angiography (DSA). |
Average grades of stenoses were 80.7 ± 16.1 % (DSA), 81.4 ± 15.3 % (MRA), 80.0 ± 16.7 % (DE-CTA-MPR), and 85.2 ± 14.7 % (DE-CTA-PS-MIP). Of 21 stenoses, 6 were filiform (stenosis grade, 99 %) in the DSA examination. Five of these cases were identified as pseudo-occlusions in MRA, while four were considered as occlusions in DE-CTA-PS-MIP. Another four cases were identified as pseudo-occlusion in DE-CTA-PS-MIP, which were identified as 90 % stenosis in the DSA examination. |
2 |
117. Ross JS, Buckner Petty SA, Brinjikji W, et al. Multiple reader comparison of 2D TOF, 3D TOF, and CEMRA in screening of the carotid bifurcations: Time to reconsider routine contrast use?. PLoS ONE [Electronic Resource]. 15(9):e0237856, 2020. |
Observational-Dx |
200 patients |
To compare 2D TOF and 3D TOF MRA vs. CE-MRA in defining carotid stenosis in a large clinical patient population, and with multiple readers with varying experience. |
Agreement between unenhanced and enhanced ratings was substantial with a pooled weighted ? of 0.733 (0.628-0.811). For 5 of the 6 readers, the combination of unenhanced 2D TOF and 3D TOF showed better agreement with contrast-enhanced than either 2D TOF or 3D TOF alone. Intra-reader reliability was substantial. |
2 |
118. Gupta A, Baradaran H, Schweitzer AD, et al. Carotid plaque MRI and stroke risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Stroke 2013;44:3071-7. |
Review/Other-Dx |
779 patients (3436 articles) |
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the association of MRI-determined intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap with subsequent ischemic events |
Of the 3436 articles screened, 9 studies with a total of 779 subjects met eligibility for systematic review. The hazard ratios for intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid-rich necrotic core, and thinning/rupture of the fibrous cap as predictors of subsequent stroke/transient ischemic attack were 4.59 (95% confidence interval, 2.91-7.24), 3.00 (95% confidence interval, 1.51-5.95), and 5.93 (95% confidence interval, 2.65-13.20), respectively. No statistically significant heterogeneity or publication bias was present in the 3 main meta-analyses performed. |
4 |
119. Gupta A, Baradaran H, Kamel H, et al. Intraplaque high-intensity signal on 3D time-of-flight MR angiography is strongly associated with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 35(3):557-61, 2014 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
51 patients |
To assess the association of intraplaque high-intensity signal determined on 3D-TOF MRA with the incidence of prior ipsilateral stroke or TIA. |
Intraplaque high-intensity signal was present in 22 (41.5%) of 53 carotid arteries studied in 51 patients. Ipsilateral ischemic events occurred in 15 (68.1%) of 22 in the intraplaque high-intensity signal-positive group (10 strokes, 5 TIAs) and in 4 (12.9%) of 31 in the intraplaque high-intensity signal-negative group (3 strokes, 1 TIA). Ischemic events occurred within the 6-month period preceding imaging in 18 (94.7%) of 19 cases. The univariate odds ratio of the association of intraplaque high-intensity signal with any prior ischemic event was 14.5 (95% CI, 3.6-57.6), and the multivariate age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio was 14.2 (95% CI, 3.3-60.5). The association remained present across 1.5 T and 3T magnet field strengths |
1 |
120. Jahromi AS, Cina CS, Liu Y, Clase CM. Sensitivity and specificity of color duplex ultrasound measurement in the estimation of internal carotid artery stenosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Vasc Surg 2005;41:962-72. |
Meta-analysis |
47 studies |
To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relation between the degree of internal carotid artery stenosis by duplex ultrasound criteria and degree of stenosis by angiography. |
Variables extracted included internal carotid artery peak systolic velocity, internal carotid artery end diastolic velocity, internal carotid artery/common carotid artery peak systolic velocity ratio, sensitivity and specificity of duplex ultrasound scanning for internal carotid artery stenosis by angiography. The Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) criteria were used to assess study quality. Sensitivity and specificity for duplex ultrasound criteria were combined as weighted means by using a random effects model. The threshold of peak systolic velocity >/=130 cm/s is associated with sensitivity of 98% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 97% to 100%) and specificity of 88% (95% CI, 76% to 100%) in the identification of angiographic stenosis of >/=50%. For the diagnosis of angiographic stenosis of >/=70%, a peak systolic velocity >/=200 cm/s has a sensitivity of 90% (95% CI, 84% to 94%) and a specificity of 94% (95% CI, 88% to 97%). For each duplex ultrasound threshold, measurement properties vary widely between laboratories, and the magnitude of the variation is clinically important. The heterogeneity observed in the measurement properties of duplex ultrasound may be caused by differences in patients, study design, equipment, techniques or training. |
M |
121. Barnett HJM, Taylor DW, Haynes RB, et al. Beneficial effect of carotid endarterectomy in symptomatic patients with high-grade carotid stenosis. N Engl J Med 1991;325:445-53. |
Experimental-Dx |
659 patients |
To sought to determine whether carotid endarterectomy reduces the risk of stroke among patients with a recent adverse cerebrovascular event and ipsilateral carotid stenosis. |
Life-table estimates of the cumulative risk of any ipsilateral stroke at two years were 26 percent in the 331 medical patients and 9 percent in the 328 surgical patients--an absolute risk reduction (+/- SE) 17 +/- 3.5 percent (P less than 0.001). For a major or fatal ipsilateral stroke, the corresponding estimates were 13.1 percent and 2.5 percent--an absolute risk reduction of 10.6 +/- 2.6 percent (P less than 0.001). Carotid endarterectomy was still found to be beneficial when all strokes and deaths were included in the analysis (P less than 0.001). |
2 |
122. Howard DPJ, Gaziano L, Rothwell PM, Oxford Vascular S. Risk of stroke in relation to degree of asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a population-based cohort study, systematic review, and meta-analysis. Lancet Neurol 2021;20:193-202. |
Review/Other-Dx |
2354 patients |
To establish whether there is any association between the degree of asymptomatic stenosis and ipsilateral stroke risk in patients on contemporary medical treatment. |
Between April 1, 2002, and April 1, 2017, 2354 patients were consecutively enrolled in OxVasc and 2178 patients underwent carotid imaging, of whom 207 had 50-99% asymptomatic stenosis of at least one carotid bifurcation (mean age at imaging: 77·5 years [SD 10·3]; 88 [43%] women). The 5-year ipsilateral stroke risk increased with the degree of stenosis; patients with 70-99% stenosis had a significantly greater 5-year ipsilateral stroke risk than did those with 50-69% stenosis (six [14·6%; 95% CI 3·5-25·7] of 53 patients vs none of 154; p<0·0001); and patients with 80-99% stenosis had a significantly greater 5-year ipsilateral stroke risk than did those with 50-79% stenosis (five [18·3%; 7·7-29·9] of 34 patients vs one [1·0%; 0·0-2·9] of 173; p<0·0001). Of the 56 studies identified in the systematic review (comprising 13 717 patients), 23 provided data on ipsilateral stroke risk fully stratified by degree of asymptomatic stenosis (in 8419 patients). Stroke risk was linearly associated with degree of ipsilateral stenosis (p<0·0001); there was a higher risk in patients with 70-99% stenosis than in those with 50-69% stenosis (386 of 3778 patients vs 181 of 3806 patients; odds ratio [OR] 2·1 [95% CI 1·7-2·5], p<0·0001; 15 cohort studies, three trials) and a higher risk in patients with 80-99% stenosis than in those with 50-79% stenosis (77 of 727 patients vs 167 of 3272 patients; OR 2·5 [1·8-3·5], p<0·0001; 11 cohort studies). Heterogeneity in stroke risk between studies for patients with severe versus moderate stenosis (phet<0·0001) was accounted for by highly discrepant results (pdiff<0·0001) in the randomised controlled trials of endarterectomy compared with cohort studies (trials: pooled OR 0·8 [95% CI 0·6-1·2], phet=0·89; cohorts: 2·9 [2·3-3·7], phet=0·54). |
4 |
123. Muluk SC, Muluk VS, Sugimoto H, et al. Progression of asymptomatic carotid stenosis: a natural history study in 1004 patients. J Vasc Surg 1999;29:208-14; discussion 14-6. |
Observational-Dx |
1004 patients |
To delineate the natural history of the progression of asymptomatic carotid stenosis. |
The risk of progression of ICA stenosis increased steadily with time (annualized risk of progression, 9.3%). With multivariate modeling, the four most important variables that affected the progression (P <.02) were baseline ipsilateral ICA stenosis >/=50% (relative risk [RR], 3.34), baseline ipsilateral ECA stenosis >/=50% (RR, 1.51), baseline contralateral ICA stenosis >/=50% (RR, 1.41), and systolic pressure more than 160 mm Hg (RR, 1. 37). Ipsilateral neurologic ischemic events (stroke/transient ischemic attack) occurred in association with 14.0% of the carotid arteries that were studied. The progression of ICA stenosis correlated with these events (P <.001), but baseline ICA stenosis was not a significant predictor. |
2 |
124. Wang T, Xiao F, Wu G, et al. Impairments in Brain Perfusion, Metabolites, Functional Connectivity, and Cognition in Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Patients: An Integrated MRI Study. Neural Plast. 2017:8738714, 2017. |
Observational-Dx |
43 patients |
To discuss the comparison of 19 aCAS patients and 24 healthy controls with Impairments in Brain Perfusion, Metabolites, Functional Connectivity, and Cognition in Severe Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis |
No results stated in the abstract. |
2 |
125. Markus HS, Levi C, King A, Madigan J, Norris J, Cervical Artery Dissection in Stroke Study I. Antiplatelet Therapy vs Anticoagulation Therapy in Cervical Artery Dissection: The Cervical Artery Dissection in Stroke Study (CADISS) Randomized Clinical Trial Final Results. JAMA Neurol 2019;76:657-64. |
Experimental-Dx |
250 patients |
To determine whether AP or AC therapy is more effective in preventing stroke in cervical dissection and the risk of recurrent stroke in a randomized clinical trial setting. A secondary outcome was to determine the effect on arterial imaging outcomes. |
Two hundred fifty patients were randomized (118 carotid and 132 vertebral), 126 to AP and 124 to AC. Mean (SD) age was 49 (12) years. Mean (SD) time to randomization was 3.65 (1.91) days. The recurrent stroke rate at 1 year was 6 of 250 (2.4%) on ITT analysis and 5 of 197 (2.5%) on PP analysis. There were no significant differences between treatment groups for any outcome. Of the 181 patients with confirmed dissection and complete imaging at baseline and 3 months, there was no difference in the presence of residual narrowing or occlusion between those receiving AP (n = 56 of 92) vs those receiving AC (n = 53 of 89) (P = .97). |
1 |
126. Biffl WL, Moore EE, Offner PJ, Brega KE, Franciose RJ, Burch JM. Blunt carotid arterial injuries: implications of a new grading scale. J Trauma 1999;47:845-53. |
Observational-Dx |
76 patients |
To review our experience with 109 BCI and developed a grading scale with prognostic and therapeutic implications. |
A total of 76 patients were diagnosed with 109 BCI. Two-thirds of mild intimal injuries (grade I) healed, regardless of therapy. Dissections or hematomas with luminal stenosis (grade II) progressed, despite heparin therapy in 70% of cases. Only 8% of pseudoaneurysms (grade III) healed with heparin, but 89% resolved after endovascular stent placement. Occlusions (grade IV) did not recanalize in the early postinjury period. Grade V injuries (transections) were lethal and refractory to intervention. Stroke risk increased with injury grade. Severe head injuries (Glasgow Coma Scale score < or =6) were found in 46% of patients and confounded evaluation of neurologic outcomes. |
2 |
127. Naggara O, Morel A, Touze E, et al. Stroke occurrence and patterns are not influenced by the degree of stenosis in cervical artery dissection. Stroke 2012;43:1150-2. |
Observational-Dx |
147 patients |
To compare the number, volume, and patterns of cerebral diffusion-weighted imaging stroke lesions among patients with <70% stenosis (Group 1), =70% stenosis (Group 2), and occlusion (Group 3). |
The presence (26 of 45 in Group 1, 32 of 59 in Group 2, 30 of 43 in Group 3; P=0.27) and the number of diffusion-weighted imaging lesions (mean±SD [interquartile range], 3.5±3.9 [1-4] in Group 1; 4.2±4.1 [1-5] in Group 2; 3.3±4.0 [1-3] in Group 3; P=0.85) were independent of lumen patency, whereas volume of diffusion-weighted imaging lesions was larger in occlusive dissection of the cervical artery (82±90 mm [17-91] versus 34±54 [2-48]; P=0.03). There were no differences in the breakdown of diffusion-weighted imaging lesion patterns according to degree of stenosis. |
2 |
128. Blum CA, Yaghi S. Cervical Artery Dissection: A Review of the Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Outcome. Arch Neurosci 2015;2. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To perform a PubMed search using each of the keywords: "Cervical artery dissection", "Dissection", "Carotid dissection", and "Vertebral dissection" between January 1st, 1990 and July 1st 2015.To identify evidence-based peer-reviewed articles, including randomized trials, case series and reports, and retrospective reviews that encompass the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, treatment, and outcome of cervical artery dissection. |
This paper highlights the mechanisms of cervical artery dissection and stroke in patients with dissection as well as the natural history and treatment. |
4 |
129. Mehdi E, Aralasmak A, Toprak H, et al. Craniocervical Dissections: Radiologic Findings, Pitfalls, Mimicking Diseases: A Pictorial Review. Curr Med Imaging Rev 2018;14:207-22. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To illustrate noninvasive imaging findings in Craniocervical Dissections (CCD). |
No results stated in the abstract. |
4 |
130. Vertinsky AT, Schwartz NE, Fischbein NJ, Rosenberg J, Albers GW, Zaharchuk G. Comparison of multidetector CT angiography and MR imaging of cervical artery dissection. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008;29(9):1753-1760. |
Observational-Dx |
18 patients |
To compare the ability of multidetector CT/CTA and MR imaging/MRA to detect common imaging findings of dissection. |
Eighteen patients with 25 dissected vessels (15 internal carotid arteries [ICA] and 10 vertebral arteries [VA]) met the inclusion criteria. CT/CTA identified more intimal flaps, pseudoaneurysms, and high-grade stenoses than MR imaging/MRA. CT/CTA was preferred for diagnosis in 13 vessels (5 ICA, 8 VA), whereas MR imaging/MRA was preferred in 1 vessel (ICA). The 2 techniques were deemed equal in the remaining 11 vessels (9 ICA, 2 VA). A significant preference for CT/CTA was noted for VA dissections (P < .05), but not for ICA dissections. |
2 |
131. Foreman PM, Griessenauer CJ, Kicielinski KP, et al. Reliability assessment of the Biffl Scale for blunt traumatic cerebrovascular injury as detected on computer tomography angiography. J Neurosurg 2017;127:32-35. |
Review/Other-Dx |
1415 patients |
To report the surgical results in those patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy in the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET). |
In 1415 patients there were 92 perioperative outcome events, for an overall rate of 6.5%. At 30 days the results were as follows: death, 1.1%; disabling stroke, 1.8%; and nondisabling stroke, 3.7%. At 90 days, because of improvement in the neurological status of patients judged to have been disabled at 30 days, the results were as follows: death, 1.1%; disabling stroke, 0.9%; and nondisabling stroke, 4.5%. Thirty events occurred intraoperatively; 62 were delayed. Most strokes resulted from thromboembolism. Five baseline variables were predictive of increased surgical risk: hemispheric versus retinal transient ischemic attack as the qualifying event, left-sided procedure, contralateral carotid occlusion, ipsilateral ischemic lesion on CT scan, and irregular or ulcerated ipsilateral plaque. History of coronary artery disease with prior cardiac procedure was associated with reduced risk. The risk of perioperative wound complications was 9.3%, and that of cranial nerve injuries was 8.6%; most were of mild severity. At 8 years, the risk of disabling ipsilateral stroke was 5.7%, and that of any ipsilateral stroke was 17.1%. |
4 |
132. Weber J, Veith P, Jung B, et al. MR angiography at 3 Tesla to assess proximal internal carotid artery stenoses: contrast-enhanced or 3D time-of-flight MR angiography?. Clin Neuroradiol. 25(1):41-8, 2015 Mar. |
Observational-Dx |
41 patients |
To compare the diagnostic accuracy of 3D time-of-flight (TOF-MRA) and contrast-enhanced (CE-MRA) magnetic resonance angiography at 3 T for detection and quantification of proximal high-grade stenosis using multidetector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) as reference standard. |
A total of 80 carotid arteries of 41 patients were reviewed. Two previously stented ICAs were excluded from analysis. On MDCTA, 7 ICAs were occluded, 12 ICAs presented with and 63 without a high-grade ICA stenosis (70-99 %). For detecting 70-99 % stenosis, both 3D TOF-MRA and CE-MRA were 91.7 % sensitive and 98.5 % specific, respectively. Both MRA techniques were highly sensitive (100 %), and specific (CE-MRA, 100 %; TOF-MRA, 98.7 %) for the detection of ICA occlusion. However, TOF-MRA misclassified one high-grade stenosis as occlusion. Intermodality agreement for detection of 70-99 % ICA stenoses was excellent between TOF-MRA and CE-MRA [? = 0.902, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.769-1.000], TOF-MRA and MDCTA (? = 0.902, 95 % CI = 0.769-1.000), and CE-MRA and MDCTA (? = 0.902, 95 % CI = 0.769-1.000). |
2 |
133. Brommeland T, Helseth E, Aarhus M, et al. Best practice guidelines for blunt cerebrovascular injury (BCVI). Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation & Emergency Medicine. 26(1):90, 2018 Oct 29. |
Observational-Dx |
N/A |
To provide a clinically oriented guideline for the handling of BCVI patients a working committee was created. |
No results stated in the abstract. |
2 |
134. Kremer C, Mosso M, Georgiadis D, et al. Carotid dissection with permanent and transient occlusion or severe stenosis: Long-term outcome. Neurology 2003;60:271-5. |
Observational-Dx |
161 patients |
To compare the rate of ischemic events and intracranial hemorrhage in the long-term follow-up of patients with persistent and transient severe stenosis or occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) due to spontaneous dissection (ICAD). |
Antithrombotic therapy and follow-up were similar in patients with permanent (6.2 +/- 3.4 years) and transient (7.2 +/- 4.3 years) severe stenosis or occlusion of the ICA. Cases with permanent carotid stenosis or occlusion showed annual rates of 0.7% for ipsilateral carotid territory stroke and of 1.4% for any stroke. Cases with transient carotid stenosis or occlusion showed annual rates of 0.3% for ipsilateral carotid territory stroke and of 0.6% for any stroke. |
2 |
135. Arauz A, Marquez JM, Artigas C, Balderrama J, Orrego H. Recanalization of vertebral artery dissection. Stroke 2010;41:717-21. |
Observational-Dx |
61 patients |
To investigate the predictors and time course for recanalization after vertebral artery dissection. |
We included 61 patients with confirmed vertebral artery dissection; 19 were evaluated and followed up with conventional angiography, 24 with MR angiography, and 18 with CT angiography. Fifty-one patients had a stenotic dissection, 7 had an occlusive dissection, one had a double-lumen image, and 2 had a pseudoaneurysm. The estimated rate of complete recanalization after vertebral artery dissection was 45.9% at 3 months, 62.3% at 6 months, and 63.9% at 12 months. We found no association between outcome and complete or partial recanalization nor did we find any factors associated with recanalization. |
2 |
136. Wadhwa A, Almekhlafi M, Menon BK, Demchuk AM, Bal S. Recanalization and Functional Outcome in Patients with Cervico-cephalic Arterial Dissections. Can J Neurol Sci 2022:1-6. |
Observational-Dx |
56 patients |
To determine the frequency and predictors of recanalization in spontaneous CeAD and to study the effect of recanalization on functional outcomes. |
Fifty-six patients with CeAdD were studied. Thirty-four patients (18 VAD; vertebral artery dissection and 16 CAD; carotid artery dissection) were followed up for recanalization. Complete recanalization was observed in 27 subjects; 13 patients with VAD recanalized in comparison to 14 with CAD (p = 0.40). All non-recanalized patients had hypertension. A good clinical outcome (mRS = 2) was observed in 47 patients. Interestingly, the likelihood of a good neurological outcome was not influenced by recanalization status. There was no difference in clinical outcome for different sites in VAD, whereas patients with intracranial CAD had severe strokes (NIHSS > 21). |
2 |
137. Baracchini C, Tonello S, Meneghetti G, Ballotta E. Neurosonographic monitoring of 105 spontaneous cervical artery dissections: a prospective study. Neurology 2010;75:1864-70. |
Observational-Dx |
76 patients: |
To monitor the sonographic course of spontaneous cervical artery dissections (sCADs) and investigate their recanalization and recurrence rates. |
A total of 105 sCADs were detected in 76 patients: 61 (58.1%) involved the internal carotid artery and 44 (41.9%) the vertebral artery, while multiple sCADs were found in 4 patients (5.3%). Follow-up was obtained in 74 patients (97.3%, 103 vessels). The complete and hemodynamically significant (<50% stenosis) recanalization rates were 51.4% (53/103) and 20.4% (21/103). All but one complete recanalization occurred within the first 9 months. There were early recurrences (while in hospital) in 20 previously unaffected arteries (26.3%) and late recurrences in 2 arteries (2.7%), site of a previous sCAD. All patients (n = 6) with a family history of arterial dissection had a sCAD recurrence (4 early and 2 late) as opposed to 16 (22.8%) among those with no known familial disease (p < 0.001). |
2 |
138. American College of Radiology. ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Radiation Dose Assessment Introduction. Available at: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Appropriateness-Criteria/RadiationDoseAssessmentIntro.pdf. |
Review/Other-Dx |
N/A |
To provide evidence-based guidelines on exposure of patients to ionizing radiation. |
No abstract available. |
4 |