Cardiac CT Angiography in Acute Stroke Imaging (SCOPE-CT)
Key facts
- Where
- Ottawa, CanadaSee the site
Where in Canada
- The Ottawa HospitalOttawa, CanadaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
- Trial code
- NCT07896889
- Record updated
- 27 October 2026
- Original description
Stroke can occur when a blood clot travels to the brain and blocks blood flow. In some patients, these blood clots may originate in the heart. Standard emergency stroke imaging typically includes a CT scan of the head and CT angiography (CTA) of the head and neck, but does not routinely include imaging of the heart.Read full original descriptionShow less
SCOPE-CT Pilot: Feasibility of Integrating ECG-Gated and Non-ECG-Gated Cardiac CT Angiography Into the Acute Stroke Imaging Workflow
Stroke can occur when a blood clot travels to the brain and blocks blood flow. In some patients, these blood clots may originate in the heart. Standard emergency stroke imaging typically includes a CT scan of the head and CT angiography (CTA) of the head and neck, but does not routinely include imaging of the heart.
This study will evaluate whether cardiac CT angiography (CTA) can be safely added to the standard acute stroke imaging workflow without delaying urgent stroke care. Participants with suspected acute ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack (TIA) will undergo either prospective ECG-gated cardiac CTA or non-ECG-gated cardiac CTA during their acute stroke imaging examination.
The primary goal of the study is to assess the feasibility of integrating cardiac CTA into routine stroke imaging by evaluating workflow impact, image quality, radiation exposure, contrast use, and protocol completion. Findings from this study may help improve the identification of cardiac sources of stroke and inform the design of future larger studies.
Inclusion: Adult patients presenting with suspected acute ischemic stroke or TIA who undergo standard acute stroke CT/CTA imaging; Age ≥18 years; Suspected acute ischemic stroke or high-risk TIA; Undergoing standard-of-care acute stroke CT/CTA; Presentation within a clinically relevant acute stroke imaging window, ≤24 hours from last-known-well; Able to undergo iodinated contrast-enhanced CTA.
Exclusion: Prior enrollment in the study; Severe renal impairment where additional contrast is deemed clinically inappropriate; The treating stroke/radiology team determines that additional cardiac CTA is not appropriate; Known contraindication to iodinated contrast; Hemodynamic instability precluding additional imaging; Pregnancy; Severe motion/agitation where imaging is not feasible.