Evaluation of brain death by contrast-enhanced computerized cranial tomography.

Four patients with clinical criteria of cerebral death were evaluated by computerized cranial tomography (CT). Upon intravenous infusion of meglumine diatrizoate, the intracranial vascular structures failed to enhance. Two of the patients also had electroencephalographic evaluation, and one patient underwent cerebral angiography, confirming the absence of cerebral blood flow. Contrast-enhanced CT may provide a contributory method in the establishment of cerebral death, in addition to elucidating the etiology of the ictus.