• Wolf-Dirk Niesen, Axel Schläger, Matthias Reinhard, and Hannah Fuhrer.
• Department of Neurology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
• J Neuroimaging. 2018 Jul 1; 28 (4): 370-373.

Background And PurposeThe differentiation of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) from parenchymal hemorrhagic transformation within an ischemic infarction (PHI) is crucial in order to adapt therapeutic measures. We hypothesized that a distinction of ICH and PHI can be made at bedside via transcranial gray-scale and perfusion sonography.MethodsWe prospectively included 14 patients with intracranial hemorrhage on admission imaging in this pilot study. Differentiation between ICH and PHI was made either by cerebral magnetic resonance imaging or follow-up computed tomography scan. All patients were examined via gray-scale and perfusion sonography.ResultsEight patients were diagnosed with ICH, and 6 patients with PHI. Volumes of ICH did not differ between the two groups. However, PHI patients showed a significantly larger perfusion deficit compared to ICH patients (P < .01). At a cutoff value of 1.41 of the mismatch index of perfusion deficit and hyperechogenic lesion, the PHI diagnosis can be made with a 100%-sensitivity and 100%-specificity.ConclusionDifferentiation of ICH and PHI via multimodal transcranial sonography with mismatch imaging is possible. Since sonographic imaging as a bedside-method is cost- as well as time-efficient, it may be a helpful tool for differentiation between these two entities particularly in critically ill patients with unclear ICH.Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Neuroimaging.

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