PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rauch, R A
AU  - Bazan, C
AU  - Larsson, E M
AU  - Jinkins, J R
TI  - Hyperdense middle cerebral arteries identified on CT as a false sign of vascular occlusion.
DP  - 1993 May 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 669--673
VI  - 14
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/14/3/669.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/14/3/669.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.1993 May 01; 14
AB  - PURPOSE To evaluate the middle cerebral artery (MCA) on CT, including its relationship to cerebral infarction.METHODS Thirteen patients with either a unilateral or bilateral hyperdense M1 segment of the MCA were evaluated. History of hypertension, diabetes, and hematocrit were obtained and compared with a control group of patients without a hyperdense MCA.RESULTS None of the patients had a unilateral hyperdense MCA ipsilateral to a clinically identifiable stroke. Patients with a hyperdense MCA had a statistically higher hematocrit and also a higher prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus than patients without a hyperdense MCA. The higher hematocrit may have increased the density of the blood, while both diabetes and hypertension are associated with calcification within blood vessel walls.CONCLUSION A hyperdense MCA is not a reliable indicator of occlusion of this vessel or subsequent infarction.