Is Perfusion Imaging Useful for Basilar Artery Occlusion?

Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) causes a stroke syndrome associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality. Despite the completion of several relevant clinical trials, the role of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for patients with BAO remains unclear. The ability of perfusion imaging to assist with treatment decisions in BAO is of interest to clinicians. In this retrospective analysis from 11 centers, patients with BAO who underwent perfusion imaging before EVT were identified over a 5-year period The authors calculated a novel Critical Area Perfusion Score (CAPS; range, 0–6) as follows: one point for each cerebellar hemisphere with severe hypoperfusion (Tmax >10 seconds), two points for pontine hypoperfusion, and two points for involvem…