Intracranial Hemorrhage and Encephalomalacia





KEY FACTS


Terminology





  • Encephalomalacia : Brain ischemia or inflammation



  • Porencephaly : Focal destruction of brain tissue



  • Hydranencephaly : Complete destruction of cerebral hemispheres



Imaging





  • Intracranial bleeding has variable appearance




    • Nonperfused intracranial mass of varying echogenicity




      • Initially echogenic, iso- to hypoechoic over time




    • Irregular, bulky choroid plexus due to adherent clot



    • Echogenic, irregular ependyma (ventricular lining)



    • Fluid-fluid level in ventricles




  • Hydrocephalus from obstructed CSF flow due to ependymal thickening and layering clot



  • Normal landmarks may be obscured by clot or tissue injury



  • Porencephaly develops at site of parenchymal bleed




    • Resorption of clot/damaged tissue leaves anechoic parenchymal cyst connected to adjacent ventricle




Top Differential Diagnoses





  • Intracranial tumor may be confused with clot but has internal blood flow and shows rapid growth



  • Holoprosencephaly may be confused with hydranencephaly but falx is missing; face often abnormal



Scanning Tips





  • Any echogenic material in frontal horns is suspicious for clot




    • Choroid plexus does not extend anterior to caudothalamic groove




  • High-resolution transvaginal US if cephalic presentation




    • Features may be very subtle, especially if associated with acute hypotensive episode




      • Maternal trauma, abruption, post fetal intervention, after monochorionic twin demise




    • Assess at time of injury and again within 7-10 days




      • Signs of encephalomalacia take time to develop





  • Use color Doppler to look for vascular malformation as potential cause







Axial US in a subtle case of intracranial hemorrhage shows echogenic material in a nondilated frontal horn , echogenic debris in the occipital horn, and thick, echogenic ependyma lining the ventricles.








Axial US of the brain in a 3rd-trimester fetus shows obvious hydrocephalus with clot in the dilated 3rd ventricle . Also note the thickened echogenic ependyma , a common finding resulting from inflammation and irritation of the ependyma by blood breakdown products.








Coronal TVUS in a 3rd-trimester fetus shows hypoechoic clot adherent to the more echogenic choroid plexus . The lateral ventricle is dilated and irregular in shape with ependymal thickening and nodular debris at an area of developing porencephaly .








Coronal TVUS angled more posteriorly in the same fetus confirms nodular ependymal thickening and ventricular dilation. Postnatal MR confirmed parenchymal thinning from ischemia (encephalomalacia) and (focal destruction) porencephaly.

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Nov 10, 2024 | Posted by in ULTRASONOGRAPHY | Comments Off on Intracranial Hemorrhage and Encephalomalacia

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