CT visualization of intracranial arterial thromboembolism.

Abstract

Human cases (8) of presumed acute occlusion of intracranial arteries, 7 middle cerebral and 1 posterior cerebral, demonstrated the occluded artery as an abnormal high density structure on non-enhanced computed tomography. Cases (3) underwent subsequent angiography which confirmed the diagnosis. CT [computed tomography] scanning is therefore able to visualize acute thromboembolism in the intracranial arteries. In the appropriate clinical setting of acute stroke, an artery visualized on non-contrast CT scan as diffuse high density and higher in density than other visualized vessels should be suspected as acutely occluded by clot.