Computed tomographic evaluation of intracerebral hemorrhage

Abstract

Context: Computed tomography (CT) has been the standard imaging modality for the initial evaluation of patients presenting with acute stroke symptoms. The primary diagnostic advantage of CT in the hyperacute phase is its ability to rule out the presence of hemorrhage. The accurate early detection of blood is crucial since a history of intracerebral hemorrhage is a contraindication to the use of thrombolytic agents. Aims: The aim of this study is to study the role of CT in the evaluation of intracerebral hemorrhage. Settings and Design: Prospesctive cross sectional observational study. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective study of 110 patients irrespective of age group with a clinical suspicion of intracerebral hemorrhage done in the Department of Radiodiagnosis, AVBRH, DMIMS (DU), Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra, India. Results: Out of 110 patients diagnosed with intracerebral hemorrhage, 67 (61%) patients were male and 43 (39%) were female. The main clinical presentation was abrupt onset severe headache, vomiting, difficulty in speech, seizures, weakness in limbs, altered mental sensorium, and sudden loss of consciousness. Among risk factors, the most common was hypertension present in 70 (63.6%) patients followed by diabetes in 62 (56.3%) patients. The putamen is the most common site of intracerebral hemorrhage involved in 47 (42.7%) patients followed by the thalamus in 24 (21.8%) patients. Conclusions: In the present day, CT is the initial modality of choice and is found to be very helpful in diagnosing intracerebral hemorrhage; it plays a crucial role in patient care by determining which course of treatment is called for.