The Contribution of Radiology to the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Occlusions of the Middle Cerebral Artery and its Branches

The angiograms of 59 cases of occlusion in the middle cerebral teritory were reviewed. Various angiographic features, e.g. the site and appearance of the occlusion, collateral circulation, hemispherical displacement, were individually considered, and an attempt made to determine their prognostic value. It is concluded that the most valuable radiological feature is displacement of the affected hemisphere, which signifies a grave prognosis. In particular, neither filling or non-filling of the so-called collateral channels, nor the site or the degree of the obstruction, appears to influence the functional outcome.