Objective:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of spectral cardiac computed tomography (CT) angiography in patients with ischemic stroke.

Methods:

In the setting of COVID-19 pandemic, we incorporated the use of spectral cardiac CT in patients with ischemic stroke to rule out the presence of cardioembolic sources, thrombotic complications or myocardial damage in a single session. Since July 2020, a delayed-phase image acquisition was incorporated to cardiac CT scans in the context of ischemic stroke. We describe four representative cases of the usefulness of the method and the cardiovascular findings.

Results:

We present four cases recorded recorded within a 40-day period. Two patients with patients with cardioembolic source (aorta and left atrial appendage) and two with ischemic stroke of undetermined source with evidence of cardiomyopathy (ischemic and non-ischemic).

Conclusions:

In the setting of ischemic stroke, spectral cardiac CT with delayed acquisition could be useful to rule out the presence of cardioembolic sources and identify the underlying etiology.

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