EVIDENCE-BASED IMAGING IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE
Because acute ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage may
have similar clinical presentations, the primary imaging goal is to
differentiate these 2 entities. Because thrombolysis and endovascular
therapy are associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage,
an additional imaging goal includes confirming the diagnosis
while excluding stroke mimics so that patients are not treated
unnecessarily. Finally, for patients who do not meet the criteria
for IV thrombolysis but who arrive at the hospital relatively early
after stroke onset, emerging imaging goals also include identifying
brain tissue that is still viable and identifying the location of vascular
occlusion when endovascular therapy is considered.