title: Plain CT findings of brain death confirmed by hollow skull sign in brain perfusion SPECT.
abstract: Computed tomographic (CT) findings of 13 patients manifesting brain death were reviewed. This diagnosis was confirmed by the so-called "hollow skull" pattern observed in brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), which was performed between 4 hours before and 3 days after the CT scans, and by subsequent corporal death. The brain perfusion SPECT was performed with the intravenous administration of technetium (Tc)-99m-hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime (HMPAO) or iodine (I)-123-N-isopropyl-p-iodoamphetamine (IMP). CT scans showed diffuse cerebral edema and the loss of gray-white matter differentiation in all the cases, and transtentorial herniation in 12 patients. These CT findings were considered predictive of brain death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshikai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tahara
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuroiwa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uchino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tabuchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kudo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000662:Amphetamines; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001926:Brain Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D020367:Iofetamine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019690:Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime; D020367:Iofetamine