Introduction: Tenecteplase has recently been studied as an alternative thrombolytic agent in acute stroke, with a possible superior effect in achieving reperfusion of large intracranial vessels.
Case report: A 90-year-old female patient was admitted to our stroke unit because of acute onset of dysarthria, left-sided neglect, and hemiparesis. Brain computed tomography (CT) coupled with CT angiography and CT perfusion (postprocessed with the use of RAPID software) demonstrated right proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion with a large penumbra/small ischemic core pattern. The patient was subsequently treated with bolus tenecteplase infusion (0.25 mg/kg). Mechanical thrombectomy was abandoned because the patient has rapidly improved. The patient was discharged to her own home 4 days later with no neurological deficit and functionally independent (modified Rankin scale of 0).
Conclusion: This case exemplifies the potential of tenecteplase in achieving swift reperfusion in patients with large vessel occlusion associated with a substantial mismatch penumbral pattern.