Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS)

Determines MCA stroke severity using available CT data.

To compute the ASPECTS, 1 point is subtracted from 10 for any evidence of early ischemic change for each of the defined regions.

Subcortical structures

Caudate (C)

Yes

-1

Insularribbon (I)

Yes

-1

Internal Capsule (IC)

Yes

-1

MCA Cortex

Lentiform nucleus (L)

Yes

-1

Anterior MCA cortex (M1)

Yes

-1

MCA cortex lateral to the insular ribbon (M2)

Yes

-1

Posterior MCA cortex (M3)

Yes

-1

Anterior cortex immediately rostal to M1 (M4)

Yes

-1

Lateral cortex immediately rostal to M3 (M5)

Yes

-1

Posterior cortex immediately rostal to M3 (M6)

Yes

-1

Interpretation

Source: Barber PA, Demchuk AM, Zhang J et-al. Validity and reliability of a quantitative computed tomography score in predicting outcome of hyperacute stroke before thrombolytic therapy. ASPECTS Study Group. Alberta Stroke Programme Early CT Score. Lancet. 2000;355 (9216): 1670-4.