CT Findings in Eclampsia

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 11(4); 1993 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1993;11(4): 533-540.

자간증의 뇌전산화단층촬영소견(저음영변변 중심으로)

권기한, 석승한,선우일남,배재천,정근호,조필자

한림대학교 신경과. 연세대학교 신경과. 국립의료원 신경과.

CT Findings in Eclampsia

Seung-Han Suk, M.D., Il-Nam Sunwoo, M.D., Jae-Chun Bae, M.D., Keun-Ho Cheong, M.D., Phil-Za Cho, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine Hallym University, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine Yonsei University, Department of Neurology, National Medical Center

Abstract

Eclampsia is characterized by hypertension. Proteinuria, edema. And seizures or mental changes after the 20th week of gestation. The incidence of abnormal CT findings in eclamptic patients are reported in 29%-21% previously, according to authors. In many previous reports, abnormal CT findings in eclamptic patients were usually bilateral. Symmetrical and non-enhancing hypodensities with mass effect at posterio; parts of cerebral hemispheres. We anal!zed the abnormal CT findings and clinical findings of 16 eclamptic Korean women and the following results were obtained. 1. There were three patterns of abnormal CT findings: low density pattern(13 cases). High density hemorrhagic pattern(3 cases). And a pattern of generalized cerebral edema(one case). 2. Low density lesions. Which could be found within 24 hours after development of neurologic symptoms or signs were usually bilateral (9/13) and symmetrical (6/9). 3. The usual location of low density lesions was around basal ganglia rather than posterior parts of cerebral hemispheres. The major clinical symptom of basal ganglia lesions was mental change rather than visual symptoms of lesions of posterior parts of cerebral hemispheres. 4. Within 2 weeks. The characteristic low density lesions on CT scans were markedly diminished or disappeared, which run parallel with neurological symptoms. 5. The cases with definite neurological deficits revealed the corresponding CT abnormalities, but the patient with sezure showed variable CT abnormalities.