The value of conventional CT in the diagnosis of hyperacute cerebral infarction

Objective: To evaluate the value of conventional CT in the diagnosis of hyperacute cerebral infarction. Methods: One hundred and sixty-eight patients with onset of strokelike symptoms underwent conventional CT within 6 hours. Results: Conventional CT demonstrated cerebral infarction in 59 patients, all had a final diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction. Conventional CT was negative in 33 patients. Twenty-one cases of whom had a final diagnosis of transient ischemic attack, 12 cases of whom had a final diagnosis of acute cerebral infarction. CT signs of hyperacute cerebral infarction include: border between gray white matter was blurred, local brain swelling, parenchymal hypodense, hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign(HMCAS). Cerebral hemorrhage was found in 76 patients. Conclusion: Conventional CT had a high sensitivity and a specificity in the diagnosis of hyperacute cerebral infarction.