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Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomography, and Autopsy Findings after Cardiorespiratory Arrest
Author(s) -
Schmidt R.,
Fazekas F.,
Kleinert R.,
Offenbacher H.,
Payer F.,
Porsch G.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of neuroimaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1552-6569
pISSN - 1051-2284
DOI - 10.1111/jon199114197
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , brainstem , perivascular space , cardiorespiratory arrest , putamen , autopsy , radiology , pathology , subarachnoid hemorrhage , computed tomography , anesthesia
A 29‐year‐old man had temporary cardiorespiratory arrest. Eight hours later, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed scattered hyperintense gyri and a marked high signal intensity of the caudate nuclei and the putamen. Computed tomography (CT) displayed no focal abnormalities but only diffuse brain swelling and blood in the subarachnoid space. The patient died 17 hours after the arrest. Histopathological findings were consistent with early ischemic brain damage. Perivascular infiltrates, probably inflammatory, involved the entire brainstem. Neither MRI nor CT demonstrated brainstem encephalitis, the presumed cause for the arrest. This observation suggests a high sensitivity of MRI for cerebral damage caused by global hypoxemia, yielding valuable diagnostic and prognostic information after resuscitation.