Abstract
Objectives: Thrombus computed tomography (CT) characteristics might be used to assess histopathologic thrombus composition in patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to assess the variability in thrombus composition that could be predicted with combined thrombus CT characteristics. Methods: Thrombi of patients enrolled in the MR CLEAN Registry between March 2014 and June 2016 were histologically analyzed with hematoxylin-eosin staining and quantified for percentages of red blood cells (RBCs) and fibrin/platelets. We estimated the association between general qualitative characteristics (hyperdense artery sign [HAS], occlusion location, clot burden score [CBS]) and thrombus composition with linear regression, and quantified RBC variability that could be explained with individual and combined characteristics with R2. For patients with available thin-slice (≤ 2.5 mm) imaging, we performed similar analyses for general and quantitative characteristics (HAS, occlusion location, CBS, [relative] thrombus density, thrombus length, perviousness, distance from ICA-terminus). Results: In 332 included patients, the presence of HAS (aβ 7.8 [95% CI 3.9–11.7]) and shift towards a more proximal occlusion location (aβ 3.9 [95% CI 0.6–7.1]) were independently associated with increased RBC and decreased fibrin/platelet content. With general characteristics, 12% of RBC variability could be explained; HAS was the strongest predictor. In 94 patients with available thin-slice imaging, 30% of RBC variability could be explained; thrombus density and thrombus length were the strongest predictors. Conclusions: Quantitative thrombus CT characteristics on thin-slice admission CT improve prediction of thrombus composition and might be used to further guide clinical decision-making in patients treated with EVT for AIS in the future. Key Points: • With hyperdense artery sign and occlusion location, 12% of variability in thrombus RBC content can be explained. • With hyperdense artery sign, occlusion location, and quantitative thrombus characteristics on thin-slice (≤ 2.5 mm) non-contrast CT and CTA, 30% of variability in thrombus RBC content can be explained. • Absolute thrombus density and thrombus length were the strongest predictors for thrombus composition.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 7811-7823 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | European Radiology |
Volume | 32 |
Issue number | 11 |
Early online date | 30 Apr 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was funded and carried out by the Erasmus University Medical Center, the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, and the Maastricht University Medical Center. The study was additionally funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 777072 (IN-SIlico trials for treatment of acute Ischemic STroke; INSIST), which played no role in trial design and patient enrolment, nor in data collection, analysis, or writing of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).