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J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2008;79:1357-1358 doi:10.1136/jnnp.2008.145938
  • Neurological picture

Massive fatal cerebral air embolism as a negative contrast angiogram

  1. C S Andrade,
  2. L T Lucato,
  3. C da Costa Leite
  1. Department of Radiology of the Clinics Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo, School of Medicine, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  1. Celi Santos Andrade, Rua Capote Valente, 500, ap. 2216, Sao Paulo, S.P., Brazil, CEP 05409-000; celis.andrade{at}ig.com.br
  • Accepted 21 February 2008

Cerebral gas embolism is a rare and potentially fatal event that may occur as a complication of medical procedures and trauma. Radiologic diagnosis is remarkable and favours immediate treatment. We present an unusual case of massive fatal cerebral air embolism, diagnosed with multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT), where final appearance resembled a negative contrast angiogram.

CASE REPORT

A female patient born with a meningomyelocele developed chronic renal insufficiency. She underwent kidney transplantation from a cadaver donor when she was 20 years old.

The patient presented with persistent haematuria and haemoptysis 6 months after the procedure. A chest CT scan demonstrated multiple lung …

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