Cranial computerized tomography in carotid artery transient ischemic attacks.

32 of 45 (71.1%) patients with carotid artery distribution transient ischemic attacks had normal cranial computerized tomography (CCT). 9 (20%) had cerebral atrophy. Incidental abnormalities were found in 3 (6.6%) patients, while a hypodense lesion corresponding to the site of neurological dysfunction was seen in only 1 (2.2%) patient. The latter showed a persistent abnormality in follow-up studies on the 8th and the 23rd day after the initial event. Our clinical CCT correlation did not demonstrate the frequency of hypodense lesions reported by some authors. Furthermore an increased incidence of cerebral atrophy was found compared to the one reported previously.