Susceptibility-weighted imaging of cerebral fat embolism

J Comput Assist Tomogr. 2010 Jan;34(1):107-12. doi: 10.1097/RCT.0b013e3181a962c1.

Abstract

Cerebral fat embolism (CFE) causes microinfarcts, vasogenic edema, and petechiae in the brain. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging has been reported to effectively visualize microinfarcts and vasogenic edema in CFE, but not petechiae. We report 3 cases of CFE in which susceptibility-weighted imaging distinctly demonstrated multiple minute hypointense foci in the brain, which were interpreted as petechiae, susceptibility-weighted imaging is a useful adjunct to conventional magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of CFE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cerebrum / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Embolism, Fat / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged