title: Role of susceptibility-weighted imaging in demonstration of cerebral fat embolism.
abstract: Cerebral fat embolism (CFE) is a rare but potentially lethal complication of long bone fractures. Many cases of CFE occur as subclinical events and remain undiagnosed. We report a case of a 22-year-old man, with multiple long bone fractures from a road traffic accident, who subsequently developed hypoxia, neurological abnormality and petechial rash. CT of the head was normal. MRI of the head confirmed the diagnosis with lesions markedly conspicuous and most widespread on susceptibility-weighted imaging as compared to all other sequences including diffusion-weighted imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Pheyming
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yeap
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Avinash Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kanodia
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Main
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Aiwain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yong
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult