RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnostic and Therapeutic Consequences of Repeat Brain Imaging and Follow-up Vascular Imaging in Stroke Patients
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
SP 37
OP 42
VO 20
IS 1
A1 Ertl-Wagner, Birgit
A1 Brandt, Tobias
A1 Seifart, Christina
A1 Forsting, Michael
YR 1999
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/20/1/37.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recently, the diagnostic and therapeutic importance of repeat radiologic imaging in stroke patients has been questioned. The aim of this study was to show the therapeutic and diagnostic consequences of both repeat brain imaging and follow-up vascular imaging in this group of patients.METHODS: Neuroradiologic images and reports as well as clinical records of 317 patients (209 men and 108 women; mean age, 63 years) were reviewed retrospectively to determine the number of modifications made to the diagnosis and therapeutic regimen and to the classification of neuroradiologic findings.RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-eight repeat imaging procedures were performed in 171 patients. Of these, 76 were vascular imaging examinations (11 CT angiograms, 13 MR angiograms, 52 digital subtraction angiograms) and 162 were cross-sectional brain imaging studies (54 MR images, 108 CT scans). Forty of the 76 vascular imaging procedures and 77 of the 162 repeat cross-sectional brain imaging studies led to important diagnostic modifications with consequences for the patients' therapy and prognosis.CONCLUSION: Our study establishes that vascular imaging methods as well as cross-sectional brain imaging used as repeat imaging procedures in stroke patients can have important diagnostic and therapeutic consequences. We believe that repeat imaging in selected subgroups will be cost-effective.