Regional cerebral blood flow in patients with transient ischemic attacks studied by Xenon-133 inhalation and emission tomography

Journal Article · · Stroke; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1161/01.STR.14.6.903· OSTI ID:6471933

Vorstrup, S; Hemmingsen, R; Henriksen, L; Lindewald, H; Engell, H C; Lassen, N A

Cerebral blood flow CBF was studied in 14 patients with transient ischemic attacks TIA and arteriosclerotic neck vessel disease. CBF was measured by a rapidly rotating single photon emission computerized tomograph using Xenon-133 inhalation. This method yields images of 3 brain slices depicting CBF with a spatial resolution of 1.7 cm. Based primarily on the clinical evidence and on the angiographical findings embolism was considered the pathogenetic factor in 10 cases, whereas chronic hemodynamic insufficiency rendered symptomatic by postural factors probably accounted for the symptoms in 4 patients. Of the 14 patients, all studied days to weeks after the most recent TIA, four showed hypoperfused areas on the CBF-tomograms and with roughly the same location hypodense areas on CT-scanning, i.e. areas of complete infarction. However, an additional five patients showed reduction of CBF in areas with no abnormality on the CT-scan. The abnormal blood flow pattern was found to be unchanged after clinically successful reconstructive vascular surgery. This suggests the presence of irreversible ischemic tissue damage without gross emollition (incomplete infarction). It is concluded, that TIAs are often harmful events, as no less than 9 of the 14 patients studied had evidence of complete and/or incomplete infarction. Thorough examination and rational therapy should be instituted as soon as possible to prevent further ischemic lesions.

• Research Organization: Univ. Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
• OSTI ID: 6471933
• Journal Information: Stroke; (United States), Journal Name: Stroke; (United States) Vol. 14:6; ISSN SJCCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOMEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY
BLOOD FLOW
BODY
BRAIN
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY
DAYS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
DIAGNOSIS
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
EMBOLI
EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
INTERNAL CONVERSION RADIOISOTOPES
ISCHEMIA
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
MEASURING METHODS
MEDICINE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
NUCLEI
ORGANS
PATIENTS
RADIOISOTOPES
RADIOLOGY
SINGLE PHOTON EMISSION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
TOMOGRAPHY
VASCULAR DISEASES
XENON 133
XENON ISOTOPES