Schneller postmortaler röntgenologischer Nachweis einer Blutungsquelle bei tödlichen basalen subarachnoidalen Blutungen

Cases of death due to basal cerebral subarachnoid hemorrhages are regularly observed in forensic autopsy material, mostly in the group sudden and unexpected death. The most frequent causes for such bleedings are ruptures of aneurysms of the major cerebral arteries. In forensic literature it is known that traumatic ruptures of otherwise normal cerebral arteries can be the only intracranial result of an external injury (often assaults) and that such cases present general and intracranial findings quite similar to deaths due to spontaneous bleeding. We recommend postmortem radiological examination of the cerebral arteries using contrast material and present the findings in our at present, small series of cases. The radiological appearance of the bleeding site in a case of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage was quite different from that in aneurysms. At least in some cases the postmortem x-ray examination seems not only to simplify the detection of the bleeding site, but also to be helpful in the diagnosis of the type of the vessel lesion.     

Fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage following traumatic rupture of the internal carotid artery

Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (TSAH) is a life-threatening intracranial bleed often associated with violent assault or motor vehicle accidents. The vast majority of TSAH is associated with rupture of the vertebral artery, although rare cases of traumatic aneurysm of the internal carotid artery (ICA) have been reported. A 27-year-old man was found bleeding and unresponsive following a violent altercation in which he received repeated blows to the head and neck. CT scan showed acute SAH, and death ensued within 24h. Autopsy revealed generalized bruising of the face, a complete midline mandibular fracture, and massive basal SAH resulting from traumatic rupture of the right terminal internal carotid artery at the origin of the middle cerebral artery. Anterior and posterior neck dissection revealed focal hemorrhage associated with the right neural arch of the first cervical vertebra (C1). Autopsy findings were consistent with TSAH resulting from rupture of the ICA following blunt force trauma to the head. The rupture site in TSAH can be difficult to locate, and injury to the ICA may be overlooked if not routinely examined. Dissection of the neck and skull base is required to ensure accurate identification of the site of vascular injury.     

Post-traumatic aneurysmal rupture involving the circle of Willis affected by fibromuscular dysplasia. A case report and systematic review

The fatal rupture of a saccular aneurysm at the junction between the left anterior cerebral artery and anterior communicating artery affected by fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare condition. Here is reported the case of a subject involved in a road traffic accident a few minutes before the death, which opened the debate on the real cause of death in a forensic setting.By autopsy, the examination of the brain revealed subarachnoid haemorrhage with flooding of the ventricles due to the breached saccular aneurysm of the junction between the left anterior cerebral artery and anterior communicating artery, in FMD mainly affecting the circle of Willis arteries. A spontaneous aneurysmal rupture was excluded on the basis of probabilistic analysis, in the presence of alternative hypotheses that could explain the facts. The passenger’s delayed loss of consciousness may be explained as much by a hypertension-linked rupture of the aneurysm triggered by the emotional stress experienced, as by the traumatic shaking/impact of the aneurysm against the bony skull structures, in a subject predisposed to aneurysm frailty due to FMD.Overall, the concausal role of both the road traffic accident, typified by high kinetic energy, and the presence of a pre-existing aneurysmatic weakness due to FMD is fully recognized.The identification of anatomical variants, jointly with uncommon diseases at the examination of the brain base arteries in any case of isolated basal subarachnoid haemorrhage, may avoid wrong legal consequences even when the cause of death seems to be obviously of simple traumatic origin.     

CTA对颅内动脉瘤破裂急性期手术夹闭的指导意义

目的:研究CTA对颅内破裂动脉瘤急性期显微外科手术治疗的指导意义.方法:对35例自发性蛛网膜下腔出血患者行CTA检查,采用容积再现(VR)、最大密度投影(MIP)和仿真血管内窥镜(VE)等方法进行图像重组,多角度显示动脉瘤的形状、大小、瘤颈,动脉瘤与载瘤动脉、周边血管及骨质的关系,并在CT工作站上模拟手术入路,以指导手术的进行.结果:手术共证实38处动脉瘤,CTA检出37处,敏感度为97.4%,特异度为100%,诊断符合率为97.4%.另外,CTA检出动脉瘤内血栓9例(9/9),穿支血管6例(6/8).术前CTA清晰显示了动脉瘤载瘤动脉及与颅骨的空间关系,与术中所见高度一致.结论:CTA对颅内动脉瘤急性期手术方案的制定有重要指导意义.     

蛛网膜下腔出血的CT与临床（附94例分析）

本文分析７４例经腰穿证实的自发性蛛网膜下腔出血（ＳＡＨ）及２０例经ＣＴ检查为外伤性ＳＡＨ的ＣＴ和临床表现。着重探讨了自发性ＳＡＨ的病因诊断，笔者认为常见原因是颅内动脉瘤、脑动静脉畸形（ＡＶＭ）、高血压动脉硬化。而动脉瘤、ＡＶＭ最常见，占查出原因的７４％，ＣＴ像上有ＳＡＨ表现的又以动脉瘤最常见，根据ＣＴ像上ＳＡＨ的分布及附近并发的脑内血肿可推断动脉瘤破裂的位置。本文还概括了ＳＡＨ典型的临床表现和常见     

自发性蛛网膜下腔出血1 000例的CT诊断

目的对１０００例自发性蛛网膜下腔出血（ＳＡＨ）的ＣＴ表现与血管造影进行回顾性对照,对出血部位和病因进行分析。方法全部病例经ＣＴ与ＤＳＡ检查,观察内容是ＳＡＨ的病因及病变位置。结果１０００例自发性蛛网膜下腔出血的病例中,ＤＳＡ显示有动脉瘤５４７例,血管畸形２８９例,动脉硬化１６１例,其他３例。ＣＴ诊断动脉瘤所致出血４６１例,血管畸形２５９例,动脉硬化１５１例。结论ＣＴ对ＳＡＨ定性、定位有一定意义,对于急诊病人的治疗、手术引流及血管造影的选择具有很大的参考价值。     

Fatal isolated ruptures of bladder following minor blunt trauma

Traumatic bladder ruptures are generally secondary to severe trauma and associated with pelvic fractures. Conversely, isolated bladder ruptures following minor blunt trauma are rare and seldom fatal. We describe six fatal cases (five males, one female, 39-82 years old) of isolated bladder rupture subsequent to minor blunt trauma. Three cases were out-of-hospital deaths and among the three hospital cases, only one was diagnosed as bladder rupture ante-mortem. All victims had a history of chronic alcohol abuse. The differentiation between spontaneous and traumatic (accidental or purposely inflicted) bladder ruptures is crucial but may be difficult to assess, especially in cases involving alcohol abuse and occurring in a domestic setting.     

Gastric traumatic injuries: CT findings

OBJECTIVE: Gastric blunt traumatic injuries are uncommon and their radiological appearance has been infrequently reported in medical literature. These injuries are difficult to diagnose preoperatively, though they require immediate recognition to minimize their otherwise high mortality and morbidity. The aim of our study is to describe the radiological appearance of blunt gastric traumatic injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of a 25 patients series observed between January 1997 and May 2005. RESULTS: We observed rupture of the stomach in 20% of cases, in 44% of cases a partial lesion of the stomach, in one case a necrotic post-traumatic volvulus, five patients (20%) had benign portal pneumatosis, in three patients the stomach was secondarily involved because of a diaphragmatic hernia. The fundus resulted to be the most frequently damaged part of the stomach (80%). CONCLUSIONS: Blunt traumatic injuries need a careful and systematic approach given their economical and social relevance. For these reasons uncommon lesions require attention and may be important to search for specific findings of gastric lesions.     

Subarachnoid hemorrhage without aneurysm

The rupture and bleeding of intracranial aneurysms is the most common cause of a spontaneous, non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). In up to 20% of these patients, no aneurysm is found, but the prognosis of these patients is known to be better than in those with aneurysms. The retrospective evaluation of the initial CT- and angiographic findings of 773 patients with spontaneous SAH, who underwent (up to three) 4-vessel DSA, brought a percentage of 12.4% with negative angiography. We found the favourable prognosis of these patients with negative angiography not only to be dependent from the distribution of the hemorrhage, with preference to perimesencephalic pattern, but the initial clinical state. 85% of our patients, who presented with perimesencephalic blood pattern and even 80% of those patients with additional intraventricular hemorrhage but the good clinical condition of Hunt-Hess I/II were discharged without neurological deficits. We recommend the obligatory 4-vessel catheter-angiography (DSA) in all patients with spontaneous SAH, independent of the blood pattern on initial CT, and one control in the presence of other than perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage, CTA might be reserved for additional controls.     

Cerebral intraventricular haemorrhage in a young adult

Summary A case of a 26-year-old man who suffered a fatal intraventricular cerebral haemorrhage following an episode of trauma is described. The initial appearance at necropsy suggested a traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage and initial investigation was directed towards the anterior neck structures and the vertebral arteries with negative results. Dissection of the fixed brain showed a massive intraventricular bleed with secondary involvement of the subarachnoid space and dissection into the cerebral parenchyma. No bleeding points or natural disease of the cerebral vessels could be identified. The practical aspects of diagnosis and the cautious approach necessary in interpreting subarachnoid bleeding is emphasised. The significance of intraventricular haemorrhage following trauma has become more apparent with the advent of computed tomographic scanning. The implications for this and similar cases are considered.     

Long-Term Follow-Up After Endovascular Treatment of Acute Aortic Emergencies

Purpose To investigate the long-term outcome and efficacy of emergency treatment of acute aortic diseases with endovascular stent-grafts. Methods From September 1995 to April 2007, 37 patients (21 men, 16 women; age 53.9 ± 19.2 years, range 18–85 years) with acute complications of diseases of the descending thoracic aorta were treated by endovascular stent-grafts: traumatic aortic ruptures (n = 9), aortobronchial fistulas due to penetrating ulcer or hematothorax (n = 6), acute type B dissections with aortic wall hematoma, penetration, or ischemia (n = 13), and symptomatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta (n = 9) with pain, penetration, or rupture. Diagnosis was confirmed by contrast-enhanced CT. Multiplanar reformations were used for measurement of the landing zones of the stent-grafts. Stent-grafts were inserted via femoral or iliac cut-down. Two procedures required aortofemoral bypass grafting prior to stent-grafting due to extensive arteriosclerotic stenosis of the iliac arteries. In this case the bypass graft was used for introduction of the stent-graft. Results A total of 46 stent-grafts were implanted: Vanguard/Stentor (n = 4), Talent (n = 31), and Valiant (n = 11). Stent-graft extension was necessary in 7 cases. In 3 cases primary graft extension was done during the initial procedure (in 1 case due to distal migration of the graft during stent release, in 2 cases due to the total length of the aortic aneurysm). In 4 cases secondary graft extensions were performed—for new aortic ulcers at the proximal stent struts (after 5 days) and distal to the graft (after 8 months) and recurrent aortobronchial fistulas 5 months and 9 years after the initial procedure—resulting in a total of 41 endovascular procedures. The 30-day mortality rate was 8% (3 of 37) and the overall follow-up was 29.9 ± 36.6 months (range 0–139 months). All patients with traumatic ruptures demonstrated an immediate sealing of bleeding. Patients with aortobronchial fistulas also demonstrated a satisfactory follow-up despite the necessity for reintervention and graft extension in 3 of 6 cases (50%). Two patients with type B dissection died due to mesenteric ischemia despite sufficient mesenteric blood flow being restored (but too late). Two suffered from neurologic complications, 1 from paraplegia and 1 from cerebral ischemia (probably embolic), 1 from penetrating ulcer, and 1 from persistent ischemia of the kidney. Five of 9 (56%) patients with symptomatic thoracic aneurysm demonstrated endoleaks during follow-up and there was an increase in the aneurysm in 1. Conclusion Endovascular treatment is safe and effective for emergency treatment of life-threatening acute thoracic aortic syndromes. Results are encouraging, particularly for traumatic aortic ruptures. However, regular follow-up is mandatory, particularly in the other pathologies, to identify late complications of the stent-graft and to perform appropriate additional corrections as required.     

Sudden fatal or non-operable bleeding from ruptured intracranial aneurysm Evaluation by post-mortem angiography with vulcanising contrast medium

Summary A series of medicolegal autopsies on 76 patients with fatal outcome following haemorrhage from ruptured intracranial aneurysm comprised 63 surgical patients and 13 non-surgical patients (M : F 6:7; mean age 44.0 ± 18.1 years), all of the latter with sudden fatal course or dramatically poor clinical condition on admission. The medicolegal autopsy was performed because of the sudden and unexpected nature of the death, or to exclude surgical malpractice. Postmortem angiography with vulcanising contrast medium disclosed intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) in 12 (92%) of the non-surgical fatalities, whereas IVH was thus characterized in only 17 (27%) of the 63 fatalities who had undergone neurosurgery (P < 0.0001). The most common type of haemorrhage among surgical cases was, instead, subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) (P<0.05). In 35 of the 76 cases (46%), casts of cerebral arteries demonstrated vasospasm-induced segmental narrowings, but such narrowings were no more frequent among the non-surgical cases than in surgical cases, nor did these narrowings correlate with IVH. In non-surgical patients, the haemorrhage most commonly originated from a ruptured aneurysm of the middle cerebral artery (P < 0.05), an event more frequently associated with the presence of IVH (P < 0.05) than without it. The results indicate that the main cause for sudden and unexpected death or rapidly developed poor non-operable clinical condition of patients with ruptured intracranial aneurysm is an IVH from a middle cerebral artery aneurysm, complicated in many cases by cerebral artery vasospasm.     

Investigation of bleeding focus in the intracranial vertebral artery with the use of posterior neck dissection method in traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage

Traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by minor blunt trauma to the head or neck can lead to rapid collapse and death. The vertebral arteries are the vessels most commonly involved in such cases, but it is very difficult to find the bleeding focus in the vertebral arteries in routine autopsy because of the location of these vessels. Using the posterior neck dissection method, which is relatively easy and avoids artificial damage to the intracranial portion of the vertebral arteries, authors have identified tear sites in the intracranial artery in four out of five consecutive traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage cases. In this report we show that this new method is useful for cases of traumatic basal subarachnoid hemorrhage.     

Moyamoya病脑出血与侧支循环的关系研究

目的 探讨Moyamoya病脑出血与侧支循环的关系。资料与方法 分析37例脑出血型Moyamoya病患者的临床资料及DSA，MRA，MRI和CT结果。结果 全部病例在DSA和MRA像上均显示颈内动脉分叉以上狭窄或闭塞，其中双侧病变25例，单侧12例，在62个病变侧中，53侧基底节区可见异常血管网形成，其中丰富者43侧，较少者10侧，极少或没有者9侧，32个病变侧显示扩张的软脑膜吻合支，后交通动脉增粗23支，眼动脉增粗26支，通过前交通动脉供血5侧，所有造影像上均未见血管造影可显示的动脉瘤，在MRI和CT像上显示基底节脑出血12例，脑叶内出血7例，丘脑出血2例，蛛网膜下腔出血6例，脑室内出血10例，脑出血以突发头痛，神志不清，失语，偏瘫为主要症状。结论 Moyamoya病临床表现与其侧支循环有密切关系，丰富的侧支循环对脑循环起重要代偿作用。可以保护缺血的脑组织；另一方面，如果异常扩张的侧支血管破裂，可引起脑出血，笔者认为Moyamoya病脑出血与其丰富的侧支循环关系密切，基底节，丘脑及脑室出血与脑底异常血管网有关，脑叶内出血可能与扩张的软脑膜吻合支破裂有关，而这两种侧支血管破裂均可引起蛛网膜下腔出血。     

Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage with negative angiography: CT findings.

Computed tomography of 31 patients with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) but negative angiography was evaluated to find out whether the pattern of SAH as seen in CT offers indications for a possible reexamination with angiography. Based on the distribution and the amount of SAH, classification into three groups was possible: (a) 18 cases, normal CT (but blood in the CSF, gained by lumbar puncture) or SAH in the basal cisterns only; repeat angiography was negative in all these cases; (b) nine cases, SAH in the basal cisterns as well as in one or both Sylvian fissures; in addition, small amounts of blood in the interhemispheric fissure and/or in the sulci; repeat angiography revealed an aneurysm in one of these cases; (c) four cases, large quantities of blood in all subarachnoid spaces; in all but one of these cases a vascular lesion was visualized with repeat angiography or verified at autopsy. In conclusion, repeat angiography is mandatory in cases with SAH patterns that can be classified into group b or c, whereas it can be omitted in patients with small amounts of blood confined to the basal cisterns.     

Ruptured arterial aneurysms in the area of the celiac trunk

Three cases of ruptured aneurysms of the digestive arteries are reported and the different available radiological methods leading to the diagnosis are discussed. Computed tomography and selective arteriography seem to be the methods of choice in this condition. Since the patients do not usually present typical signs until the aneurysm ruptures, the diagnosis is late. Early management of these patients is necessary in order to decrease the mortality rate.     

Aneurysmal rupture during embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils: causes, management, and outcome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aneurysmal rupture during endovascular treatment is one of the most feared complications of endovascular aneurysm therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, causes, management, and outcome of aneurysmal rupture that occurred during treatment with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs) in an unselected series of patients with ruptured cerebral aneurysms. METHODS: Between July 1997 and December 2000, we treated 164 acutely ruptured cerebral aneurysms with GDCs. All charts were reviewed, and patients with aneurysmal rupture occurring during embolization were identified. RESULTS: Five patients had an intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture. In one patient, rupture was due to guidewire perforation of the wall. In two patients, the microcatheter itself perforated the aneurysm. In another two patients, rupture occurred during placement of the first coil. Endovascular packing was continued in all patients. One patient died as a result of the aneurysmal rupture. No negative long-term effects were observed in the remaining four patients. In summary, we observed intraprocedural aneurysmal rupture in 3% of our patients, with a mortality rate of 20% and no long-term morbidity. CONCLUSION: Aneurysmal rupture during endovascular treatment with GDCs is a rare event; clinical severity may be variable. Embolization of the aneurysm can be continued in most cases, and most patients with treatment-related subarachnoid hemorrhage survive without serious sequelae.     

Aneurysms of the vein of Galen in infants aged 2 to 15 months. Diagnosis and natural evolution

Summary This is a report of seven cases of aneurysm of the vein of Galen (AVG) with a review of the clinical and radiological aspects of 48 cases in the literature. The natural evolution and pathophysiology of this vascular malformation are discussed. The clinical signs of this condition are often misleading. The appearance of AVG on CT is pathognomic. Surveillance of the vascular malformation and associated cerebral lesions can be maintained with subsequent CT. Spontaneous thrombosis of the aneurysm was observed in three cases. The diagnosis of thrombosis of the AVG was always made at operation or by histological examination. The radiological appearance of a thrombosed aneurysm is typical.     

Cerebral venous thrombosis as a rare cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage: case report and literature review

We report a 48-year-old woman presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) as the first manifestation of superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. In a literature review of 73 cases, SAH associated with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) was usually seen at the cerebral convexities. SAH was adjacent to thrombosed venous structures; therefore, the most possible explanation seems to be the rupture of cortical veins due to extension of thrombosis. Computed tomography (CT) was effective for diagnosis of CVT in only 32% of the cases. CVT should be considered when SAH is limited to cerebral convexities and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with MR venography should be performed.     

Development of "de novo" aneurysms following endovascular procedures

Two personal cases of "de novo" aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (ACoA) occurring 9 and 4 years, respectively, after endovascular carotid occlusion are described. A review of the 30 reported cases (including our own two) of "de novo" aneurysms after occlusion of the major cerebral vessels has shown some features, including a rather long time interval after the endovascular procedure of up to 20-25 years (average 9.6 years), a preferential ACoA (36.3%) and internal carotid artery-posterior communicating artery (ICA-PCoA) (33.3%) location of the "de novo" aneurysms, and a 10% rate of multiple aneurysms. These data are compared with those of the group of reported spontaneous "de novo" aneurysms after SAH or previous aneurysm clipping. We agree that the frequency of "de novo" aneurysms after major-vessel occlusion (two among ten procedures in our series, or 20%) is higher than commonly reported (0 to 11%). For this reason, we suggest that patients who have been submitted to endovascular major-vessel occlusion be followed up for up to 20-25 years after the procedure, using non-invasive imaging studies such as MR angiography and high-resolution CT angiography. On the other hand, periodic digital angiography has a questionable risk-benefit ratio; it may be used when a "de novo" aneurysm is detected or suspected on non-invasive studies. The progressive enlargement of the ACoA after carotid occlusion, as described in our case 1, must be considered a radiological finding of risk for "de novo" aneurysm formation.