Multimodal CT techniques for cerebrovascular and hemodynamic evaluation of ischemic stroke: occlusion, collaterals, and perfusion

Neuroimaging of cerebrovascular status and hemodynamics has vastly improved our understanding of stroke mechanisms and provided information for therapeutic decision-making. CT techniques are the most commonly used techniques due to wide availability, rapid acquisition and acceptable tolerance. Numerous multimodal CT techniques have been developed in the last few years. We summarize and explain the various multimodal CT acquisition techniques within three categories based on the scanning mode, namely static mode (single-phase CTA), multiple static mode (multi-phase CTA) and continuous mode (CT perfusion and dynamic CTA). Post-processing methods based on different acquisition modes are also introduced in an easy manner by focusing on the information extracted and products generated. We also describe the applications for these techniques along with their advantages and disadvantages.