Overview

• The DAYLIGHT trial enrolled 465 patients with acute stroke or transient ischemic attack at London Health Sciences Centre’s University Hospital.
• Extending CT angiography to include the heart and aorta increased detection of cardioaortic thrombus by about 600%, revealing one previously hidden clot for every 14 patients scanned.
• Adding a three-second scan did not delay emergency imaging or treatment and raised radiation exposure by only about 2½ mammograms’ worth.
• Identifying a heart-origin clot enables tailored treatment decisions, with blood thinners typically prescribed to prevent recurrent strokes.
• With results published in The Lancet Neurology, researchers are refining the CT protocol and seeking funding to launch a larger international study.