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A 46 year-old man was unresponsive after a cardiac arrest. Neurological examination demonstrated extensor posturing and bilateral dilated pupils. |
| Anoxic Encephalopathy (Diffuse Cerebral Edema): Axial CT scan immediately after the event. Note that the scan is essentially normal. Anoxic injury is typically delayed and reaches a maximum at day 2 or 3. On the scan 2 days later, note the severe diffuse cerebral edema. No sulci are seen over the convexities and the cisterns around the brainstem have been effaced. Also note the absence of the normal gray-white matter differentiation. This radiographic picture is most often seen following trauma, hypoxia (as in this case) or CNS infection, especially meningitis. In this scenario, the diffuse edema leads to increased intracranial pressure followed by decreased brain perfusion and subsequent brain death. |
Revised
11/29/06
Copyrighted 2006. David C Preston