Brainstem swelling and noncommunicating hydrocephalus caused by hypertensive brainstem encephalopathy
Emergency Radiology, vol.20, no.6, pp.579-582, 2013 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 20 Issue: 6
- Publication Date: 2013
- Doi Number: 10.1007/s10140-013-1143-7
- Journal Name: Emergency Radiology
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
- Page Numbers: pp.579-582
- Keywords: Hypertensive brainstem encephalopathy, Brainstem swelling, Tonsillar herniation, Noncommunicating hydrocephalus
- Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Hypertensive encephalopathy is a life-threatening medical condition manifested by headache, confusion, seizures, and visual disturbance, and, if treatment is delayed, it may progress to coma and death [1, 2] (Chester et al., Neurology 28:928-939, 1978; Vaughan and Delanty, Lancet 356:411-417, 2000). Involvement of the brainstem with or without supratentorial lesions has been reported and is termed hypertensive brainstem encephalopathy (HBE). Cases of HBE involving supratentorial deep gray and white matter are rare and extensive hyperintensity was predominantly seen in brainstem regions on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. We present radiologic findings of a patient with HBE involving deep supratentorial gray and white matter, causing tonsillar herniation and noncommunicating hydrocephalus by mass effect. © 2013 Am Soc Emergency Radiol.