Overestimation of core infarct by computed tomography perfusion in the golden hour

Abstract

A nonagenarian patient developed a right middle cerebral artery syndrome during recovery after a right internal carotid artery (ICA) balloon angioplasty. Emergent head computed tomography (CT) revealed no acute ischemic changes; CT angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP) demonstrated a right ICA occlusion with a large right hemispheric predicted core infarct by cerebral blood flow thresholds and minimal mismatch volume. She underwent complete reperfusion in <45 min from symptom onset. Magnetic resonance imaging brain obtained within 48 h showed a decreased infarct volume as that estimated by CTP. This case emphasizes the limitations of estimating the ischemic core with CTP in the golden hour with ultra-early reperfusion and suggests that CTP thresholds should not be used to exclude patients from treatment in the very early time window.

Keywords

• acute ischemic stroke
• cerebral blood flow
• computed tomography perfusion
• endovascular treatment
• ghost core infarct