Sulcal effacement with preserved gray-white junction: a sign of reversible ischemia

Does radiological conjugate eye deviation sign play a role in acute stroke imaging? A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The diagnostic value of non-contrast CT (NCCT) in acute stroke imaging remains indispensable, especially under emergency conditions with limited resources. The radiological conjugate eye deviation (RCED) has been demonstrated as a NCCT sign to predict acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or AIS secondary to large vessel occlusion (LVO) in recent studies. We performed a meta-analysis to gain a better understanding into the predictive role of RCED for AISs and LVO-AISs.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane. The search focused on studies published between January 2000 and August 2020 that reported the predictive value of RCED for the diagnosis of AIS or LVO-AIS. Principal measurements of the meta-analysis were the overall sensitivity, specificity, the positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and the negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of RCED in predicting AIS and LVO-AIS.

RESULTS

We included 11 studies (n = 2304). For AIS, RCED had a sensitivity of 0.37 (95% CI 0.27-0.47), a specificity of 0.86 (95% CI 0.73-0.93), the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.58 (95% CI 0.53-0.62), PLR was 2.5 (95% CI 1.5-4.4), and NLR was 0.74 (95% CI 0.65-0.84). For LVO-AIS, RCED had a sensitivity of 0.63 (95% CI 0.46-0.77), a specificity of 0.77 (95% CI 0.71-0.82), AUC was 0.63 (95% CI 0.46-0.77), PLR was 2.7 (95% CI 1.7-4.3), and NLR was 0.49 (95% CI 0.3-0.78).

CONCLUSION

RCED can be used to predict LVO-AIS. It is expected that this method will be extensively used and validated in acute stroke imaging, especially under emergency conditions with limited resources.

A rare case of pediatric moyamoya disease with reversible white matter lesions in a 3-year-old Chinese girl

Moyamoya disease is a chronic cerebral vascular disease characterized by progressive occlusion of the cerebral arteries and resulting in the development of abnormal collateral circulation. We report a case of moyamoya disease in a 3-year-old Chinese girl with partly reversible white matter lesions. This case indicates that, in pediatric moyamoya disease, white matter lesions may be associated with cerebral ischemia, and they may be reversible after treatment.

A prediction model of brain edema after endovascular treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Clinical tools predicting brain edema after reperfusion therapy in acute ischemic stroke are scarce. We aim to develop a nomogram model to predict brain edema within the first 24 h after endovascular treatment (EVT) in the anterior cerebral circulation.

METHODS

A total of 199 patients were retrospectively identified in a single-center stroke registry. Brain edema was measured by midline shift (MLS). The associations between MLS and early neurologic outcomes were described. A nomogram predicting MLS was developed and internally validated. The nomogram was also compared with an available model using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analyses.

RESULTS

Overall, 87 patients (43.7%) had MLS. The patients with MLS ≥ 6 mm showed progressive neurological deterioration according to repeated measures analysis of variance. Each millimeter increase in MLS was strongly correlated with the presence of in-hospital death or forgoing treatment (Spearman's rho = 0.429, P < .001). Patients with brain edema were less likely to have functional independence at 3 months (19.5% vs. 46.8%, P < .001). A nomogram model including 24-h CT ASPECT scores and cisternal effacement, hypertension and complete recanalization showed a C-index of 0.874. This tool exhibited a higher AUC and higher net benefit than the available model.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed a profound association between MLS and early neurologic outcomes. A nomogram model was developed to predict patients at risk of brain edema after EVT in the anterior cerebral circulation.

Evolving Treatments for Acute Ischemic Stroke

The purpose of this article is to review advances in stroke treatment in the hyperacute period. With recent evolutions of technology in the fields of imaging, thrombectomy devices, and emergency room workflow management, as well as improvement in statistical methods and study design, there have been ground breaking changes in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. We describe how stroke presents as a clinical syndrome and how imaging as the most important biomarker will help differentiate between stroke subtypes and treatment eligibility. The evolution of hyperacute treatment has led to the current standard of care: intravenous thrombolysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator and endovascular treatment for proximal vessel occlusion in the anterior cerebral circulation. All patients with acute ischemic stroke are in need of hyperacute secondary prevention because the risk of recurrence is highest closest to the index event. The dominant themes of modern stroke care are the use of neurovascular imaging and speed of diagnosis and treatment.