The Role of Head CT SCAN in Stroke Diagnosis

Stroke is a condition when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). This condition causes certain areas of the brain to be deprived of oxygen and nutrients, resulting in the death of brain cells.

Symptoms of a stroke can be marked by sudden paralysis or weakness of the limbs; speech becomes unclear or slurred; facial muscles appear weak on one side; and there can also be a loss of balance and awareness. There are also various causative factors, which can be caused by head injuries, high blood pressure, cholesterol, or heart disease.

Stroke is an emergency because, without a supply of oxygen and nutrients, cells in the affected part of the brain can die in just minutes. As a result, the part of the body controlled by this brain area cannot function properly. So that patients with stroke symptoms need to be taken to the hospital for proper treatment.

Rapid and precise evaluation of patients with stroke can improve the patient's therapeutic response and provide appropriate initial treatment. One of the significant aspects of evaluating acute stroke is the imaging examination, or brain scan. Until now, brain scanning (head CT scan) without contrast has been the main investigation for the initial evaluation of patients suspected of having a stroke.

A CT scan of the head is an examination that uses X-ray radiation to obtain a three-dimensional (3D) image of the brain. This examination is a technique that produces images of the brain without the need for surgery, skin incisions, or direct contact with body parts. This technology allows visualization of brain structures with fairly simple examination techniques. The patient only needs to lie down on a table connected to the CT scan machine and wait for the brain scan to finish for approximately 10 minutes, according to the operator's instructions.

In stroke, a head CT scan is the gold standard for differentiating between ischemic (blockage) and hemorrhagic (bleeding) strokes. Because the therapy given to the two types of stroke is different, this examination can help neurologists determine further therapy for patients with stroke.

 

Reference:

Birenbaum D., Bancroft L.W., Felsberg G.J. Imaging in acute stroke West J Emerg Med. 2011 Feb;12(1):67–76. PMID: 21694755; PMCID: PMC3088377.

Shafaat O., Sotoudeh H., Stroke Imaging. [Updated May 8, 2022] In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan.