| Abstract: | Noninvasive imaging plays an important role in acute stroke towards diagnosis and ongoing management of patients. Systemic thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) are proven treatments currently used in standards of care in acute stroke settings. The role of computed tomography angiography (CTA) in selecting patients with large vessel occlusion for EVT is well established. However, the value of CT perfusion (CTP) imaging in predicting outcomes after stroke remains ambiguous. This article critically evaluates the value of multimodal CT imaging in early diagnosis and prognosis of acute ischemic stroke with a focus on the role of CTP in delineating tissue characteristics, patient selection, and outcomes after reperfusion therapy. Insights on various technical and clinical considerations relevant to CTP applications in acute ischemic stroke, recommendations for existing workflow, and future areas of research are discussed.Neuroimaging is currently the mainstay of acute stroke workflow as it is used to rule out hemorrhage and select patients eligible for systemic thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) (1). Advanced imaging has shown promise in acute stroke; however, the prognostic utility of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging has drawn considerable debate. Given that stroke is associated with long-term morbidity and mortality, efforts to develop diagnostic imaging biomarkers have been pursued. However, the clinical translation of certain imaging modalities has been limited, especially CTP imaging. This could be attributed to the limited availability of CTP in under-resourced settings, variations in the diagnostic accuracy of CTP maps, and differences in the thresholds used in creating perfusion maps. In this paper, we will present a comprehensive overview of various imaging modalities in acute stroke with a particular focus on the clinically relevant utility of CTP and provide roadmap for future research. |
