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AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

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American Journal of Neuroradiology 24:1114-1116, June-July 2003
© 2003 American Society of Neuroradiology

Case Report
BRAIN

Cortical Blindness after Contrast-Enhanced CT: Complication in a Patient with Diabetes Insipidus

Hans-Joachim Mentzel^a, Jörg Blume^b, Ansgar Malich^a, Clemens Fitzek^a, Jürgen R. Reichenbach^a and Werner A. Kaiser^a

^a Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Jena, Jena, Germany
^b Department of Pediatrics, University of Jena, Jena, Germany

Address correspondence to Hans-Joachim Mentzel, M.D., Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Bachstraße 18, 07740 Jena, Germany

Summary: Transient cortical blindness is an uncommon but well-known complication following cerebral angiography. One possible cause of this complication is an adverse reaction to contrast agent, resulting in an osmotic disruption of the blood-brain barrier that seems to be selective for the occipital cortex. We report the case of a 16-year-old male patient with cortical blindness after intravenous application of nonionic contrast agent during CT angiography performed because of seizure that was attributed to thrombosis of the basilar artery on the basis of clinical findings. To our knowledge, the development of cortical blindness after CT angiography has not been described in the literature. The patient’s symptoms were triggered by hyponatriemia and diabetes insipidus.