ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score)
Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (Barber 2000): a 10-point topographic read of early ischemic change on the baseline non-contrast CT; score = 10 minus the affected regions.
Open the calculator → Runs in your browser. Data leaves only if you deliberately send a problem report from the interactive tool.
Example
- Caudate
- Yes
- Lentiform nucleus
- Yes
- Insular ribbon
- Yes
Result: ASPECTS 7/10 (3 of 10 regions with early ischemic change): ASPECTS <= 7 -- associated with worse functional outcome and higher symptomatic-hemorrhage risk.
The tool opens with these values already filled in. Replace them with your own.
What the result means
- Score
- 10 minus one point per affected MCA-territory region (caudate, lentiform, internal capsule, insula, M1-M6); 10 is a normal scan, 0 is diffuse ischemia.
- Dichotomy
- the source dichotomizes at <= 7, where lower scores predict worse functional outcome and a higher symptomatic-hemorrhage risk after thrombolysis.
What you enter
- Caudate
- Lentiform nucleus
- Internal capsule
- Insular ribbon
- M1 (anterior MCA cortex)
- M2 (MCA cortex lateral to insula)
- M3 (posterior MCA cortex)
- M4 (anterior MCA, superior to M1)
The other 2 fields
- M5 (lateral MCA, superior to M2)
- M6 (posterior MCA, superior to M3)
How this is calculated
Barber PA, Demchuk AM, Zhang J, Buchan AM. Validity and reliability of a quantitative computed tomography score in predicting outcome of hyperacute stroke before thrombolytic therapy. Lancet. 2000;355(9216):1670-1674. Read the source ↗
A reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice, and not a substitute for clinician judgment.