Hyponatremic encephalopathy after excessive water ingestion prior to pelvic ultrasound: neuroimaging findings.
We report two patients with acute hyponatremic encephalopathy which developed after massive water ingestion for pelvic ultrasound and emphasize the findings of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Both subjects had completely recovered within 24 hours following fluid restriction and salt replacement. MR imaging revealed cortical sulcal narrowing, restricted diffusion and sulcal T2 hyperintensity along with diffuse pial enhancement suggesting diffuse cerebral cortical cytotoxic edema and blood-brain barrier breakdown. In addition to the first illustration of multimodality MR imaging features of water-intoxication, these two cases also highlight the need for standardized practice on the quantity of water intake recommended to distend the bladder for pelvic ultrasound, especially in patients at risk for serum inappropriate ADH syndrome-related hyponatremia.
Yalcin-Cakmakli
Gul
G
Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Karli Oguz
Kader
K
Shorbagi
Ali
A
Funda Bas
Demet
D
Ergan-Arsava
Begum
B
Kunt
Mahir
M
Topcuoglu
Mehmet Akif
MA
D000328:Adult; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014869:Water Intoxication / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*