Article # 11 Authors Institution :
Introduction
Article # 11 Authors Institution :
Introduction
Non-contrast computerized tomography ( CT ) of the head is an initial imaging modality traditionally used to assess patients with suspected intracranial haemorrhage . Acute blood is markedly hyperdense compared to the brain parenchyma , and usually poses difficulties in diagnosis , provided the amount of blood is large enough , and the scan is performed early . Stroke involves either anatomic damage or physiologic disturbance of cerebral function lasting longer than 24 hours . It may lead to the death of the victims with no apparent cause other than vascular origin [ 1 ]. Strokes can be classified as either haemorrhagic or ischemic otherwise transient . Ischemic strokes account for 80 % of stroke cases while haemorrhagic stroke accounts for 20 % but the actual proportions of stroke subtypes depend on the targeted population of interest [ 2 ]. A distinction can be made between the subtypes since their therapy is dealt with differently [ 3 ]. Ischemic stroke warrants the institution of thrombolytic and / or antiplatelet therapy while in haemorrhagic stroke , haemostatic therapy may be given [ 4 ]. CT scan was used for distinguishing stroke subtypes , while transient ischemic stroke remains undiagnosed with CT . CT is cheaper than magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ), however ; it is still very expensive and inaccessible in under-resourced hospital settings [ 5 ]. Diagnosis of either haemorrhagic , ischemic , or any other variants of a stroke may not be possible in all setups of patient management [ 6 ] and drawbacks of clinical stroke diagnosis have been established in various locations in Africa and beyond [ 7 ].
To resolve such challenges and enhance clinical bedside diagnosis , clinical stroke scores validation methods have been developed . We believe they can be best considered in the absence of the most appropriate imaging modality [ 8 ]. Commonly used modalities include Guy`s , Bensson , Greek , and Siriraj stroke scores [ 9 , 10 ]. In clinical practice , the scores could be used either for a cheap screening test or as a diagnostic test alternative to CT scans . In order to be more reliable , screening tests should have high specificity and high negative predictive value . On the other hand , high sensitivity and positive predictive value are essential requirements when doing diagnostic tests [ 9 ].
Molla Asnake Kebede Department of Medicine , College of Medicine and Health Sciences , Mizan- Tepi University , Mizan-Aman , Ethiopia
Amenu Tolera Wirtu Department of Anatomy , College of Health Sciences , Addis Ababa University , Addis Ababa 9086 , Ethiopia
Biruk Endalkachew Mekonnen Department of Biomedical Science , College of Medicine and Health Sciences , Mizan- Tepi University , Mizan-Aman , Ethiopia
Abel Gima Tilahun Department of Public Health , College of Medicine and Health Sciences , Mizan- Tepi University , Mizan-Aman , Ethiopia
Tizita Kinfe Degaga Department of Biomedical Sciences , Menelik II Health Science College , Kotebe Education University , Addis Ababa 31228 , Ethiopia
Jickssa Gemechu Department of Foundational Medical Studies , Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine , Rochester , MI , USA