Left PCA infarct with hyperdense PCA sign

Case contributed by Anil Kumar Geetha Virupakshappa
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

4 days history of confusion and worsening balance. On examination, he is hypertensive but has no focal infective signs. He appears to have a homonymous hemianopia on visual field examination

Patient Data

Age: 85 years
Gender: Male

Subtle hypodensity of left occipital lobe with loss of grey-white differentiation. A focal hyperdensity of P2 segment of the left posterior cerebral artery is noted.

CT intracranial angiography study a week later revealed a well-established left posterior cerebral artery territory infarct with thrombosis of P2 segment of left posterior cerebral artery.

Case Discussion

The hyperdense artery sign refers to focal hyperdensity in an artery (in this instance the posterior cerebral artery) on non-contrast brain CT and is the direct visualization of thromboembolic material within the lumen. It is thus the earliest visible sign of PCA infarction.

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