CTA spot sign predicts hematoma expansion in patients with delayed presentation after intracerebral hemorrhage.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hematoma expansion after acute intracerebral hemorrhage occurs most frequently in patients presenting within 3 h of symptom onset. However, the majority of patients present outside this window or with an unknown onset time. We investigated the prevalence of hematoma expansion in these patients and assessed the accuracy of the CT angiography (CTA) spot sign for identifying risk of hematoma expansion.

Methods

We analyzed 391 consecutive patients undergoing CTA and a followup CT. CTA spot sign readings were performed by two experienced readers and hematoma expansion was assessed by means of semi-automated software.

Results

Hematoma expansion occurred in 18 % of patients. When stratified by time from symptom onset to initial CT, hematoma expansion rates were: 3

SUBMITTER: Brouwers HB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3707619 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature