Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the middle cerebral artery (MCA) on CT, including its relationship to cerebral Infarction. METHODS: Thirteen patients with either a unilateral or bilateral hyperdense M1 segment of the MCA were evaluated. History of hypertension, diabetes, and hematocrit were obtained and compared with a control group of patients without a hyperdense MCA. RESULTS: None of the patients had a unilateral hyperdense MCA ipsilateral to a clinically Identifiable stroke. Patients with a hyperdense MCA had a statistically higher hematocrit and also a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus than patients without a hyperdense MCA. The higher hematocrit may have increased the density of the blood, while both diabetes and hypertension are associated with calcification within blood vessel walls. CONCLUSION: A hyperdense MCA Is not a reliable Indicator of occlusion of this vessel or subsequent infarction.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 669-673 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | American Journal of Neuroradiology |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - Jan 1 1993 |
Keywords
- Artery abnormalities and anomalies
- Artery computed tomography
- Brain infarction
- Cerebral arteries
- Middle arteries (MCA)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
- Clinical Neurology