Computed tomography of the cerebrovascular accident

ABSTRACT

CT is a noninvasive and highly valuable method in the diagnosis of intracerebral vascular accidents. Authors analysed 200 cases of clinically suspected cerebrovascular accident(CVA) who were performed CT scan from April1980 to June 1981. The results were as follows; 1. The analysis of CT finding in 200 cases of clinically suspected CVA showed 129 cases (64.5%) of definite CVA, 53 cases of normal finding, 8 cases of equivocal finding and 10cases of miscellaneous disease. 2. Among CVA positive finding of 129 cases, intracerebral hemorrhage was noted in61 cases (47.3%), cerebral infarction in 39 cases (30.2%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage in 29 cases (22.5%) 3. The most prevalent age group as 6th decade in intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage, but 7th decade in cerebral infarction. The sex ratio between male and female in intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was 11 and 11.6 respectively, but incerebral infarction male was predominant with the ratio of 31. 4. The most common sites of involvement was basal Anglia (41.0%), thalamus (32.8%) and lobes(18.0%) in intracerebral hemorrhage; and lobes(51.6%) and basal ganglia (30.7%) in infarction. 5. Among 33 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage confirmed by spinal tapping, 25 cases (75.8%) showed CT positive finding and 8 cases (24.2%) CT negative finding. Most cases of CT positive finding were performed CT scan was 7 hours after onset; and the mass effect of the lesion was observed in 44% of cases, mostly(82%) within a week. The contrast enhancement of the cerebral infarct was demonstrated in 19% of cases mostly between 3 days and 30 days and after onset.