Noncontrast CT markers of intracerebral hemorrhage expansion and poor outcome
A meta-analysis
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Abstract
Objective To provide precise estimates of the association between noncontrast CT (NCCT) markers, hematoma expansion (HE), and functional outcome in patients presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods We searched PubMed for English-written observational studies or randomized controlled trials reporting data on NCCT markers of HE and outcome in spontaneous ICH including at least 50 subjects. The outcomes of interest were HE (hematoma growth >33%, >33% and/or >6 mL, >33% and/or >12.5 mL), poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 3–6 or 4–6) at discharge or at 90 days, and mortality. We pooled data in random-effects models and extracted cumulative odds ratio (OR) for each NCCT marker.
Results We included 25 eligible studies (n = 10,650). The following markers were associated with increased risk of HE and poor outcome, respectively: black hole sign (OR = 3.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.42–9.64 and OR = 5.26, 95% CI = 1.75–15.76), swirl sign (OR = 3.33, 95% CI = 2.42–4.60 and OR = 3.70; 95% CI = 2.47–5.55), heterogeneous density (OR = 2.74; 95% CI = 1.71–4.39 and OR = 2.80; 95% CI = 1.78–4.39), blend sign (OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 2.20–5.55 and OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.16–4.18), hypodensities (OR = 3.47; 95% CI = 2.18–5.50 and OR = 2.94; 95% CI = 2.28–3.78), irregular shape (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.27–3.19 and OR = 3.43; 95% CI = 2.33–5.03), and island sign (OR = 7.87, 95% CI = 2.17–28.47 and OR = 6.05, 95% CI = 4.44–8.24).
Conclusion Our results suggest that multiple NCCT ICH shape and density features, with different effect size, are important markers for HE and clinical outcome and may provide useful information for future randomized controlled trials.
Glossary
- CI=
- confidence interval;
- CTA=
- CT angiography;
- HE=
- hematoma expansion;
- ICH=
- intracerebral hemorrhage;
- mRS=
- modified Rankin Scale;
- NCCT=
- noncontrast CT;
- OR=
- odds ratio;
- RCT=
- randomized clinical trial
Footnotes
Go to Neurology.org/N for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.
↵* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Editorial, page 615
- Received December 16, 2019.
- Accepted in final form June 22, 2020.
- © 2020 American Academy of Neurology
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