Improved Outcome Prediction Using CT Angiography in Addition to Standard Ischemic Stroke Assessment: Results from the STOPStroke Study

Purpose: To improve ischemic stroke outcome prediction using imaging information from a prospective cohort who received admission CT angiography (CTA). Methods: In a prospectively designed study, 649 stroke patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke had admission NIH stroke scale scores, noncontrast CT (NCCT), CTA, and 6-month outcome assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) scores. Poor outcome was defined as mRS.2. Strokes were classified as ‘‘major’ ’ by the (1) Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS+) if NCCT ASPECTS was#7; (2) Boston Acute Stroke Imaging Scale (BASIS+) if they were ASPECTS+ or CTA showed occlusion of the distal internal carotid, proximal middle cerebral, or basilar arteries; and (3) NIHSS for scores.10. Results: Of 649 patients, 253 (39.0%) had poor outcomes. NIHSS, BASIS, and age, but not ASPECTS, were independent predictors of outcome. BASIS and NIHSS had similar sensitivities, both superior to ASPECTS (p,0.0001). Combining NIHSS with BASIS was highly predictive: 77.6 % (114/147) classified as NIHSS.10/BASIS+ had poor outcomes, versus 21.5 % (77/358) with NIHSS#10/BASIS2 (p,0.0001), regardless of treatment. The odds ratios for poor outcome is 12.6 (95 % CI: 7.9 to 20.0