Epidemiological aspects of stroke in CT-scan department of the Point-G Hospital in Bamako, Mali]

The purpose of this prospective study conducted between January 2000 and December 2001 was to identify tomodensitometric aspects of stroke. The relationship between lesion type (hemorrhagic, ischemic, and transient ischemic) and prognosis was assessed. Axial sections were made through the posterior fossa (5 mm at 5mm intervals) and subtentorial region (10 mm at 10 mm intervals). The Virchow plan was used as the reference for sections. The chi square test was used to evaluate the correlation between lesion type and prognosis. A total of 159 stroke patients with a mean age of 44.5 years were enrolled during the study period. There were 90 men (56.6%) and 69 women (43.3%). In 118 patients (74.2%), CT scans showed cerebral abnormalities including ischemic lesions in 71 (44.6%) and hemorrhagic lesions in 47 (29.6%). Overall mortality was 45.7% (54/118). Hemorrhagic lesions were fatal in 51.1% (24/47) of cases and ischemic lesions in 35.2% (25/71). Transitory ischemic accidents were fatal in 0.12% of cases (5/41). This study demonstrates that CT scan is an important tool for stroke management by identifying the type and location of lesions.