Evaluation of cerebral infarction by computed tomography with special emphasis on microinfarction.

Computed tomography has proved to be the most effective mode of evaluating cerebral infarction in 143 documented cases. This was especially true when multiple focal infarcts were present. The incidence of contrast enhancement in acute infarcts was 88%. Concomitant acute and old infarcts were observed in 20% of cases. In the acute stage of stroke, radionuclide studies are preferable to contrast angiography since the latter may aggravate the pre-existing focal ischemia. Follow-up CT and radionuclide scans were extremely useful in confirming the diagnosis and demonstrating various postinfarction sequelae.