Diagnosing occlusions of the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) can be challenging on imaging. This preliminary report evaluated whether dual-phase CT angiography (CTA), and specifically its delayed phase acquisition (40 seconds post-contrast), could reveal additional signs to aid in the detection of M2 occlusions. In a review of 10 patients with confirmed M2 occlusions who underwent thrombectomy, all showed hyperattenuating distal arteries (M3/M4) on delayed-phase CTA that were not visible in the early phase. Most patients (8 out of 10) exhibited hyperattenuating ipsilateral cortical veins. These findings suggest that delayed-phase CTA can reveal retrograde contrast pooling distal to the occlusion, providing useful ancillary signs for identifying M2 occlusions.
Home › News › Dual-phase CT angiography can provide additional diagnostic information for detecting M2 middle cerebral arterial occlusions, especially through delayed-phase imaging