Pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage in cerebellar infarction
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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Pre-Chiasmatic, Single Injection of Autologous Blood to Induce Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in a Rat Model
Published on: June 18, 2021
Brandon R Barton1, Shyam Prabhakaran, Demetrius K Lopes
1Department of Neurologic Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, 1725 W. Harrison Street, Suite #1106, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. Brandon_r_barton@rush.edu
Introduction:
The computed tomography (CT) appearance of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) without subarachnoid blood has been labeled "pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage" (pseudo-SAH) and has been reported with several diffuse intracerebral insults including intrathecal contrast agents, meningitis, generalized cerebral edema, anoxic encephalopathy, and intracranial hypotension.
Methods:
Single case report.
Results:
We present a 43-year-old female who presented with vertigo and severe headache. Initial CT brain suggested SAH with hydrocephalus. Subsequent cerebral angiography was negative. Cerebrospinal fluid from an external ventricular drain (EVD) was negative for blood, and MRI brain revealed an acute stroke in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) territory.
Conclusion:
Our case suggests that PICA infarction can be associated with the CT finding of pseudo-SAH, thereby mimicking the clinical and radiographic presentation of SAH.
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