Current achievements in reporting brain imaging in ischemic stroke: zones and score ASPECTS

Abstract

Introduction. Ischemic stroke incidence and mortality rates show a constantly increasing trend worldwide. As the only specific treatment for ischemic stroke, considered the gold standard, tissue plasminogen activator can be applied only in first 3 hours from the symptoms onset, imaging report must contain maximal volume of information regarding the ischemic lesion. The Alberta Stroke Program Early Computer Tomography Score (ASPECTS) accurately classifies and standardizes regions of middle cerebral artery circulations and describes the subtle changes in imaging patterns, providing possibility to identify ischemia and appreciate its severity. ASPECTS represents a quantitative topographic assessment scale with 10 points for normal brain appearance and subtraction of 1 point for every area, where early ischemic signs are present.