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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
Combined Near-infrared Fluorescent Imaging and Micro-computed Tomography for Directly Visualizing Cerebral Thromboemboli
Published on: September 25, 2016
Clinical and radiographic improvement following cerebral fat emboli
Anand I Rughani1, Jeffrey E Florman, David B Seder
1Division of Neurosurgery, University of Vermont, 111 Colchester Ave, Fletcher 507, Burlington, VT 05401, USA. anand.rughani@mail.mcgill.ca
Background:
Cerebral fat embolism is a well-described complication associated with long-bone fracture. However, with contemporary imaging, there is a distinct magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pattern emerging.
Methods:
The authors describe a case and briefly review the proposed etiology, clinical and radiographic diagnosis, treatment and outcome of cerebral fat embolism.
Results:
A 21-year-old male sustained a femur fracture after a motor vehicle accident and had delayed pulmonary and neurological deterioration 2 days following injury. MRI of the brain demonstrated a pattern of diffuse punctuate hyperintense signal on T2-weighted and diffusion weighted imaging. This "starfield" pattern reversed on follow-up MRI at 1 month, and occurred in conjunction with remarkable clinical recovery.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the MRI findings associated with fat embolism, their reversibility, and offers insight into the significant clinical improvement that may occur in such patients.
