Neuroradiology Teaching
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There is a low attenuation abnormality in
the left fronto-parietal lobe extending from the lateral ventricle
to the brain surface. There is midline shift of the brain to the
right and mass effect on the frontal horn of the left lateral
ventricle.
The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the larger of the two terminal branches of internal carotid artery (the other being the anterior cerebral artery). It supplies most of the lateral ventricle, anterior temporal lobe, lentiform nucleus, and caudate nucleus.
The most common location for infarction is in the MCA territory (>75%).
Cerebral infarction falls under the umbrella of cerebrovascular disorders called stroke. A CT done expediently is helpful for two reasons:
1. To look for intracerebral hemorrhage.
2. To identify an underlying structural lesion such as a tumor, vascular malformation or subdural hematoma.
Case Prepared by Steven Lee, M.D. and Anthony L. Alcantara, M.D.
Related case from the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School