Adnan Agha1, Mohammad Al-Hakami. 1. Registrar Internal Medicine. Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region. Khamis Mushyt, Kingodm of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The authors report an unusual case of the radiological appearance of diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage on brain computed tomographic (CT) scan in a patient with post-resuscitation anoxic encephalopathy. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A young man with chronic renal failure collapsed unconscious while starting hemodialysis and was revived after resuscitation for almost one hour. He was shifted to intensive care unit and subsequent CT scan after 3 days showed a picture compatible with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. The subsequent lumbar puncture showed no evidence of subarchnoid hemorrhage while the attenuation at the basal cistern on CT brain was consistent with pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage. A four vessel angiography done subsequently confirmed anoxic encephalopathy. CONCLUSION: Anoxic encephalopathy can mimic diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT.
BACKGROUND: The authors report an unusual case of the radiological appearance of diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage on brain computed tomographic (CT) scan in a patient with post-resuscitation anoxic encephalopathy. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A young man with chronic renal failure collapsed unconscious while starting hemodialysis and was revived after resuscitation for almost one hour. He was shifted to intensive care unit and subsequent CT scan after 3 days showed a picture compatible with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. The subsequent lumbar puncture showed no evidence of subarchnoid hemorrhage while the attenuation at the basal cistern on CT brain was consistent with pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage. A four vessel angiography done subsequently confirmed anoxic encephalopathy. CONCLUSION: Anoxic encephalopathy can mimic diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT.
Authors: H Yuzawa; S Higano; S Mugikura; A Umetsu; T Murata; A Nakagawa; A Koyama; S Takahashi Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2008-06-12 Impact factor: 3.825