Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis CT

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sujaya Chattopadhyay, M.D.[2]

Overview

The appearance of ADEM on cranial CT has rarely been reported. There is a delay between the onset of the clinical signs and the appearance of lesions on CT scan. The correlation was limited between the clinical course and the anatomical distribution and type of abnormality seen on CT scan.

CT

The appearance of ADEM on cranial CT has rarely been reported. There is a delay between the onset of the clinical signs and the appearance of lesions on CT scan. The correlation was limited between the clinical course and the anatomical distribution and type of abnormality seen on CT scan^[1]. The findings that have been elucidated in some case reports are^[2]:

Hypodense lesions in the white matter, basal ganglia and brainstem edema
Contrast-induced spotty, nodular or gyral enhancement
The enhancement resolved with steroids, leaving persistent hypoattenuated areas, indicating dual components in the pathogenesis of ADEM. Thr vasculitic component is steroid– responsive while the demyelinating component is not.

References

↑ Lukes SA, Norman D (1983). “Computed tomography in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis”. Ann Neurol. 13 (5): 567–72. doi:10.1002/ana.410130516. PMID 6870208.
↑ Thajeb P, Chen ST (1989). “Cranial computed tomography in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis”. Neuroradiology. 31 (1): 8–12. doi:10.1007/BF00342021. PMID 2717010.

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[pmid6870208-1] Lukes SA, Norman D (1983). “Computed tomography in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis”. Ann Neurol. 13 (5): 567–72. doi:10.1002/ana.410130516. PMID 6870208.

[pmid2717010-2] Thajeb P, Chen ST (1989). “Cranial computed tomography in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis”. Neuroradiology. 31 (1): 8–12. doi:10.1007/BF00342021. PMID 2717010.

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