Pseudo-Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Potential Imaging Pitfall Associated with Diffuse Cerebral Edema

Article Figures & Data

Summary of clinical and imaging findings

Case	Patient Age/Sex	Signs of Edema^*	Attenuation Value (HU)^†	Proof^‡	Diagnosis at Death or Discharge^§
1	5 y/M	C, E	NA	Autopsy result	Diffuse cerebral edema secondary to hyponatremia
2	37 y/F	C, E, GW	NA	Autopsy result	Sudden cardiac death, anoxic injury
3	22 y/M	C, E	NA	Negative LP result	Pseudo-tumor cerebri
4	22 y/F	C, E	NA	Autopsy result	DKA with hypoxic and metabolic encephalopathy
5	8 mo/F	E, GW	29	Negative LP result	Diffuse cerebral edema, SIDS
6	5 y/M	C, E, GW	33	Negative LP result	Cardiopulmonary failure secondary to unknown metabolic disorder (possibly Leigh disease)
7	6 y/M	C, E, GW	29	Negative LP result	Septic Shock

* C indicates compression and/or mass effect on the fourth ventricle; E, effacement of the basal cisterns and cortical sulci; GW, decreased gray matter–white matter differentiation.
† Mean attenuation levels were obtained with a region of interest drawn in the basal cisterns. NA indicates not available.
‡ LP indicates lumbar puncture.
§ DKA indicates diabetic ketoacidosis; SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome.