The daily educational pearl – features of ischaemic CVA on CT

CT findings that suggest the presence of an ischaemic CVA

– loss of grey/white matter differentiation

– effacement of cortical sulci

– local mass effect

– parenchymal hypodensity

– obscuration of lentiform nucleus

– hyperdense cerebral artery (middle most commonly) – associated with higher risk of haemorrhagic transformation and contraindication to thrombolysis