Presentation
Status post prolonged cardiac arrest.
Patient Data
Non-contrast CT images of the head demonstrate diffuse loss of grey-white matter differentiation indicating diffuse edema. There are linear hyperdensities in the basal cistern and cerebral sulci representing engorged veins - this is referred to as pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage.
Subsequent CT angiography of the head demonstrates normal opacification of the cervical vasculature, but non-opacification of the intracranial vasculature due to increased intracranial pressure from massive cerebral edema which prevents iodinated contrast from entering the calvarium.
Case Discussion
This is a case of pseudosubarachnoid hemorrhage.
The patient presented after prolonged cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation and expired shortly after brain imaging was complete.
Co-author: Ryan Thibodeau, MD.
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