Statements Issued on Cerebral Imaging and Radiation Dosing

November 1, 2009—The American Heart Association’s scientific statement on recommendations for imaging of acute ischemic stroke was published in Stroke by Richard E. Latchaw, MD, et al on behalf of the association’s Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention, Stroke Council, and the Interdisciplinary Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease (2009;40:3646–3678). The document surveys the current evidence for imaging the cerebral parenchyma, imaging the cerebral vasculature, and imaging of cerebral perfusion.

In related news, on October 30, the American Society of Neuroradiology and American College of Radiology released a statement on computed tomography (CT) protocols and radiation dose (available online at http://www.asnr.org/asnr_acr_ct_dose.shtml).

According to the statement, the recent US Food and Drug Administration’s safety investigation of radiation overexposures during perfusion CT imaging to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke highlights the importance of carefully evaluating protocols for all CT procedures relative to both radiation dose and image quality (available online at www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/AlertsandNotices/ucm185898.htm). Also in the statement, the societies outlined Actions to Minimize Patient Dose in CT.