European Journal of Scientific Research

ISSN 1450-216X Vol.34 No.1 (2009), pp.104-109

© EuroJournals Publishing, Inc. 2009
http://www.eurojournals.com/ejsr.htm

Pattern of Computed Tomography Findings in Cerebrovascular

Accident Patients in South-Eastern Nigeria – A Retrospective
Study of 480 Patients

C.U. Eze
Correspondence Authors Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria
Enugu Campus, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria
Tel: +2348052805214
E-mail: ezecharlesu@yahoo.com

A.O. Okaro
Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine
University of Nigeria Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria

C. C. Ohagwu
Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology
College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus
Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) accounts for a significant proportion of

neurological disorders seen in tertiary hospitals in Nigeria and carries a high morbidity and
mortality statistics.
Aim: To evaluate the pattern of computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with
clinically diagnosed CVA who underwent CT imaging.
Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of 480 patients with clinically suspected
CVA, who underwent CT imaging at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu,
Nigeria between January, 2007 and December, 2008 was conducted. Data were analyzed
using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 14.0.
Results: The incidence of CVA was significantly higher in males than in females (72.71%,
n = 349 Vs 27.29%, n = 131; ρ < 0.05). The most frequently affected age group was the 50
– 59 years age group (32.92%, n = 158). The incidence of ischaemic CVA was significantly
higher than haemorrhagic CVA in the general population (56.66%, n = 272 Vs 23.13%, n =
111; ρ < 0.05). The incidence of ischaemic CVA was significantly higher than
haemorrhagic CVA in males (45.65%, n = 219 Vs 17.29%, n = 83; ρ < 0.05) and in females
(1 1.04%, n = 53 Vs 5.83%, n = 28; ρ < 0.05). Various types of brain tumuors were the
commonly encountered findings at CT that clinically mimicked CVA, accounting for
4.38% (n = 21) of all the cases evaluated. Haemorrhagic CVA was significantly more in
patients aged between 60 and 69 years than the rest of the patients while ischaemic CVA
Pattern of Computed Tomography Findings in Cerebrovascular
Accident Patients in South-Eastern Nigeria – A Retrospective Study of 480 Patients 105

was significantly more in patients aged between 50 and 59 years than the rest of the
patients (ρ < 0.05).
Conclusion: The result of the study showed that there is a male preponderance in the
incidence of both haemorrhagic and ischaemic CVA. There is also a preponderance of
ischaemic CVA over haemorrhagic CVA. A few intracranial pathologies that mimic CVA
are misdiagnosed as CVA clinically.

Keywords: Cerebrovascular accident, Computed tomography, Findings, Pattern, South-

Eastern Nigeria.

1. Introduction
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed in
some ways. As a result, brain cells are starved of oxygen causing some cells to die and leaving others
damaged. CVA can be defined as a focal neurological deficit of vascular origin lasting more than 24
hours and is often preceded by transient ischaemic attack in 10 – 15% of the cases.1 The symptoms of
CVA are usually sufficiently severe and abrupt to force the patient to seek immediate medical aid.
CVA has been reported as a cause of death and neurological disability in adults and imposes a heavy
emotional and financial burden on the family of the patient and society.2 A study in America reported
that stroke was the third most common cause of death in the United States, approximating 7% and
trailing only heart disease and cancer.3 It carries a high mortality rate and is a leading cause of
disability.3
CVA is the most prevalent neurological disorder in both mortality and morbidity and is caused
by an abnormality in the blood supply to the brain.4 A variety of processes that involves the blood
vessels may lead to luminal compromise and cerebral infarction.5 CVA may be due to infarction
(ischaemic stroke) in 80% of the cases or haemorrhage in the remaining 20%.1 Haemorrhagic CVA is
usually associated with uncontrolled and longstanding hypertension.1 Clinically, ischaemic stroke
presents as a focal neurological deficit of sudden onset but there may be step-like progression with
headache, complete loss of consciousness and vomiting as common symptoms unless the brainstem is
involved.1 Clinical presentation of haemorrhagic stroke varies according to the site, type and location
of the bleed. Headache, vomiting, focal neurological deficit and decreased level of consciousness are
characteristic symptoms and there may be quick progression to coma.1
There is a potential for prominent impact for radiologic imaging on care for patient with acute
6
stroke. Stroke remains one of the most important clinical diagnoses for which patients are referred to
the radiologist for emergent imaging7, as timely and accurate diagnoses would help in the management
of the patient. Computed tomography (CT) is very important in diagnosis of CVA as it shows if it is
haemorrhagic or ischaemic.8 CT detects haemorrhage and other lesions that may mimic stroke such as
tumours, subdural/extradural haematomas and abscesses.9 Because of greater penetration of CT
scanners, speed of examination and absence of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety
considerations, CT has become a first-line imaging evaluation of patients with symptoms of CVA.7
There is paucity of literature on CT studies of patients with CVA in this locality. This study
was aimed at evaluating the pattern of common CT findings in patients with CVA in this locality to
provide the needed baseline data.

2. Patients and Methods

A retrospective study of 480 patients, who were referred for CT imaging of the brain for clinically
suspected CVA between January, 2007 and December, 2008 was conducted. The study was carried out
in the Department of Radiation Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-
106 C.U. Eze, A.O. Okaro and C. C. Ohagwu

Ozalla, Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria. The teaching hospital is a major referral centre for CVA patients
in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Permission to carry out the study was obtained from the
hospital management before the commencement of the study.
All the patients referred for CT evaluation of clinically diagnosed CVA were scanned using a
fifth generation spiral (helical) Siemens™ CT machine with the following specifications: maximum
kilovoltage – 140kV, minimum kilovoltage – 40kV, maximum milliamperage – 500mA, minimum
milliamperage – 50mA, and maximum tilting angle - 60º. Scanning was done in axial cuts from the
base of the skull to the vertex. Slice thickness of 2mm was used from the base of the skull to the sella
turcica and then 3mm for the rest of the scan. All the images were reformatted in all the cases for better
analysis.
The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)
version 14.0. Statistical tests were done with two-tailed t-test with ρ < 0.05 to indicate statistical
significance.

3. Results
A total of 480 patients with clinically suspected CVA who were referred for CT imaging during the
period covered by the study were evaluated. The patients comprised of 349 (72.29%) males and 131
(27.29%) females as shown in table 1.

Table 1: Age and gender distribution of the patients evaluated

Age (Years) Male Female Total

40 - 49 86 (17.91%) 28 (5.83%) 114 (23.75%)
50 – 59 112 (23.33%) 46 (9.58%) 158 (32.92%)
60 – 69 90 (18.75%) 38 (7.92%) 128 (26.67%)
70 – 79 32 (6.67%) 17 (3.54%) 49 (10.20%)
>= 80 29 (6.04%) 2 (0.42%) 31 (6.46%)
Total 349 (72.70%) 131 (27.30%) 480 (100%)

There were significantly more male patients being affected than females (ρ < 0.05). The
patients’ ages range from 40 years to over 80 years. Table 1 also shows that patients aged between 50
and 59 years were the most affected group with a frequency of 158 patients (32.92%) while the least
affected were patients who were 80 years or more with a frequency of 31 patients (6.46%).
Table 2 shows the distribution of types of CVA and other findings seen at CT according to
gender of the patients. It shows that ischaemic CVA was the more common CVA in both males (219
patients; 45.63%, ρ < 0.05) and females (53 patients; 11.04%, ρ < 0.05) than haemorrhagic CVA.
There is a male to female ratio of 4.1: 1 for ischaemic CVA and 3: 1 for haemorrhagic CVA. Other
findings that clinically mimicked CVA seen at CT were cerebral aneurysm found in only 9 patients
(1.87%; all males) and various brain tumuors found in 21 patients (4.38%).

Table 2: Distribution of types of CVA and other findings at CT according to the gender of the patients

CT Findings Male Female Total

Haemorrhagic CVA 83 (17.29%) 28 (5.83%) 111 (23.13%)
Ischaemic CVA 219 (45.63%) 53 (11.04%) 272 (56.66%)
Cerebral aneurysm 9 (1.88%) 0 (0%) 9 (1.87%)
Brain tumours 13 (2.71%) 8 (1.67%) 21 (4.38%)
Normal CT findings 47 (9.79%) 20 (4.17%) 67 (13.96%)
Total 371 (77.29%) 109 (22.71%) 480 (100%)

The tumuors were seen in 13 males (2.71%) and 8 females (1.67%). Normal findings at CT
were encountered in 67 patients (13.96%); 47 males (9.79%) and 20 females (4.17%).
Pattern of Computed Tomography Findings in Cerebrovascular
Accident Patients in South-Eastern Nigeria – A Retrospective Study of 480 Patients 107

Table 3 shows the distribution of CT findings according to the age of the patients.
Haemorrhagic CVA was the commonest finding in patients aged between 60 and 69 years with a
frequency of 60 patients (12.50%, ρ < 0.05)) while ischaemic CVA was the commonest finding in
patients aged between 50 and 59 years with a frequency of 113 patients (23.54%, ρ < 0.05).

Table 3: Distribution of CT findings according to patients’ ages

CT Findings
Age (Years) Haemorrhagic Ischaemic Cerebral Brain Normal
Total
CVA CVA aneurysm tumuors findings
40 - 49 2 (0.42%) 70 (14.58%) 3 (0.63%) 0 (0%) 39 (8.12%) 114 (23.75%)
50 - 59 41 (8.54%) 113 (23.54%) 1 (0.21%) 1 (0.21%) 2 (0.42%) 158 (32.92%)
60 - 69 60 (12.50%) 68 (14.17%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) 128 (26.67%)
70 - 79 5 (1.04%) 11 (2.29%) 4 (0.83%) 11 (2.29%) 18 (3.75%) 49 (10.20%)
>= 80 3 (0.63%) 10 (2.08%) 1 (0.21%) 9 (1.86%) 8 (1.66%) 31 (6.64%)
Total 111 (23.13%) 272 (56.66%) 9 (1.88%) 21 (4.38%) 67 (13.95%) 480 (100%)

Cerebral aneurysm was commonest among the very elderly patients aged between 70 and 79
years with a frequency of 4 patients (0.83%) as shown in table 3. The highest incidence of brain
tumuor (1.86%; n = 9) was also found in patients aged between 70 and 79 years as shown in table 3.
Normal findings at CT was mostly encountered in patients between 40 and 49 years (8.12%; n = 39) as
shown in table 3.

4. Discussion
Cerebrovascular accident is a leading cause of death and disability in the elderly. Computed
tomography which produces series of cross-sectional images plays important part in definitive
diagnosis of CVA. It is becoming increasingly available locally and is assuming the first-line imaging
modality status in cases of CVA where they are available.
The result of our study shows that there is a male preponderance over female in the incidence of
both haemorrhagic and ischaemic CVA. There are male to female ratios of 4.1: 1 for ischaemic CVA
and 3: 1 for haemorrhagic CVA recorded in this study. This finding is similar to the report of Ikeh et
al10 who reported 5.7: 2 male to female ratio for cerebral infarction in South-East Ngeria. A similar
study in South-West Nigeria reported a male to female ratio 1.3: 1.2 Also, a retrospective study of
medical admissions at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu reported a male gender
preponderance.11 Stroke or CVA was among the cases reviewed in the study. This male preponderance
in CVA suggests that men have more risk factors for CVA such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus
than women. Although, we did not review the lifestyle and habits of the patients, we think that men are
more involved in high-risk habits such as smoking and alcoholism, and probably work harder under
stressful conditions. These factors are closely associated with hypertension and other cardiac diseases
which may elicit CVA.
There were more cases of ischaemic CVA than haemorrhagic CVA recorded in this study. This
finding is similar to others that reported the same trend.2,1 Our study also revealed a small proportion of
mimics of CVA such as cerebral aneurysms and brain tumuors which can only be definitively
diagnosed at CT. These findings suggest that the recommendation that CT imaging be carried out in all
cases of suspected CVA should be adhered to.2,8,9,12,13 Even though we have more male patients as
victims of CVA, a previous study reported that there was no gender preference in utilization of
neuroimaging facilities.14
A previous study reported that the highest incidence of CVA was found among the elderly,
those beyond middle ages.15 The present study in South-Eastern Nigeria recorded the highest incidence
108 C.U. Eze, A.O. Okaro and C. C. Ohagwu

of CVA, both ischaemic and haemorrhagic in the elderly. This may be attributed to the increase in the
risk factors for CVA notably hypertension with age. There may be a low awareness level about
hypertension and its management among this elderly people in our locality. Though, not many cases of
haemorrhagic CVA were recorded, it should be recalled that haemorrhgic CVA is a direct consequence
of uncontrolled and longstanding hypertension.1
Computed tomography plays a very important role in definitive diagnosis of CVA paving the
way for timely and accurate management of the patient. Non-contrast head CT (NCCT) is being
advocated as one of the mainstays of early stroke diagnosis.16-24 CT angiography (CTA) has become
established as a means of diagnosing the vascular occlusion of acute stroke because it can reliably
detect filling defects within the circle of Willis or its proximal tributaries25, and parenchymal filling-
perfusion defects indicative of whole-brain perfused blood volume.20

5. Conclusion
In conclusion, our study revealed male gender preponderance in the incidences of haemorrahgic and
ischaemic CVA. There is also a preponderance of ischaemic CVA than haemorrhagic CVA in the
general population. A few cases mimicking CVA may be misdiagnosed as CVA clinically. The result
of this study may be of use to neurologists in clinical decision making as to which imaging modality
will provide accurate and timely diagnosis of CVA.

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