Overview. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke describes the sudden onset of focal neurologic deficit resulting from brain infarction or ischemia in the territory supplied by the MCA. The MCA is by far the largest cerebral artery and is the vessel most commonly affected by cerebrovascular accident.
What causes a MCA stroke?
MCA strokes are generally embolic as opposed to thrombotic. This means that usually a middle cerebral artery stroke is caused by a blood clot that traveled from elsewhere in the body, typically from the heart or from the carotid artery, and lodged in the middle cerebral artery, blocking blood flow.
What is a MCA medical?
middle cerebral artery. Abbreviation: MCA. The continuation of the internal carotid artery beyond the circle of Willis. It runs along the lateral (Sylvian) fissure between the frontal and temporal lobes.
Does MCA stroke affect legs?
A stroke of the MCA is denoted as middle artery syndrome. presents with: contralateral sensory loss of the legs, arms, and lower two-thirds of the face due to tissue necrosis of the primary somatosensory cortex.
What are the symptoms of MCA stroke?
As described previously, MCA strokes typically present with the symptoms individuals associate most commonly with strokes, such as unilateral weakness and/or numbness, facial droop, and speech deficits ranging from mild dysarthria and mild aphasia to global aphasia.
Why are MCA strokes most common?
The MCA has a main stem and several branches arising from it. Occlusion of the main stem affects the entire territory of brain supplied by the MCA. Distribution of the MCA is so large that a stroke of the main stem puts the victim at risk for severe disability or death.
What happens right before a stroke?
Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your face or in one arm or leg. Loss of vision, strength, coordination, sensation, or speech, or trouble understanding speech. These symptoms may get worse over time. Sudden dim vision, especially in one eye.
What is the best treatment for stroke?
Emergency IV medication. An IV injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) — also called alteplase (Activase) — is the gold standard treatment for ischemic stroke. An injection of tPA is usually given through a vein in the arm with the first three hours.
Can stress cause strokes?
Blood pressure also tends to increase when you’re stressed and when blood pressure is consistently high, it can narrow or weaken blood vessels. This makes it easier for blood clots to form or for vessels to leak or burst, triggering a stroke.
What does MCA stand for in EMS?
A Medical Control Authority (MCA) is an organization designated by the department for the purpose of supervising and coordinating an emergency medical services (EMS) system, as prescribed, adopted, and enforced through department-approved protocols for a particular geographic region.
Can a stroke cause weakness in both legs?
Brain-stem stroke can cause bilateral leg weakness, but symptoms are unlikely to be confined to the lower extremities. Importantly, lesions within the frontal cortex that cause mass effect on the contralateral frontal lobe may result in bilateral lower extremity weakness.
What areas of the brain does the MCA supply?
The middle cerebral artery (MCA) is the largest of the three major arteries that channels fresh blood to the brain. It branches off the internal carotid artery. It supplies blood to lateral (side) areas of the frontal, temporal, and parietal lobes.
Why does MCA stroke cause hemiplegia?
After such a large stroke, the resulting brain swelling may cause sufficient side-to-side and downward herniation of the brain that the resulting midbrain compression kills the patient. Those who survive the initial period will have a contralateral hemiplegia affecting the lower face, arm and (to a lesser extent) leg.