Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
CNS, CT-Angiography, MR, Education, Ischaemia / Infarction
Authors:
J. Sison, C. Shin, A. Pillai, A. Malhotra, M. Emin Adin, L. Tu
DOI:
10.26044/ranzcr2023/C-51
Background
Stroke is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, with recent estimates of approximately 800,000 new cases in the United States alone and up to 16.9 million new cases of stroke worldwide. While the overall mortality due to stroke appears to be decreasing in the United States, it remains a leading cause of death. According to updated American Heart Association statistics, stroke accounted for almost 5% of all deaths in the United States and was the 5th leading cause of death when considered separately from other etiologies of cardiovascular disease. Nonlethal cases of stroke can still be accompanied by significant morbidity. Stroke remains the leading cause of disability worldwide and in the US the associated cost of caring for stroke patients has been estimated at $30 billion per year. Therefore, accurate recognition and treatment of acute stroke has significant ramifications in terms of healthcare outcomes and cost.
Posterior circulation stroke is a challenging diagnosis to recognize, with missed diagnosis in as many as 40% of cases. In this exhibit, we summarize the existing evidence for evaluating patients with suspected posterior circulation strokes as well the impact on patient management and outcomes.