Computed tomographic evaluation of acute hemorrhagic stroke volume and its relationship with clinical outcome

Background: Hemorrhagic stroke outcome has been poorly studied in this region despite being a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The use of computed tomography to assess the volumes of lesion, the sites of the brain affected, and their relationship with patients' clinical outcome will add to the body of knowledge in the management of hemorrhagic stroke. Objectives: The objectives of this study are to determine if the volume of hemorrhagic stroke lesion correlates with patient clinical outcome at 30 days poststroke. Materials and Methods: Acute hemorrhagic stroke patients were recruited consecutively over 18 months. Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) volume and the sites affected were correlated with the patients' modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assessment outcome at 30 days poststroke. The mRS scores of (0–3) were regarded as favorable and (4–6) as unfavorable. Student's t-test, logistic, and linear regression analyses were done using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 20.0, level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Forty-four patients were included in the study. Overall, mean (standard deviation) ICH lesion volume of 30.8 (33.2) ml was observed. Mean volumes of 32.2 (35.7) ml and 29.2 (30.9) ml were seen in patients with favorable and unfavorable outcomes, respectively. Linear and logistic regression analyses of the volume of the lesion on mRS outcome and patient outcome (alive vs. dead) were not statistically significant with P values of 0.982 and 0.868, respectively. Conclusion: Hemorrhagic stroke lesion volume though important in the assessment of patients does not significantly correlate with patient outcome at 1-month poststroke.