Calcified embolism: a rare cause of cerebral infarction

Vijay Chandran1, Aparna Pai, Suryanarayana Rao

  • 1Department of Neurology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India. vj_chandran@rediffmail.com

BMJ Case Reports
|May 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Calcified cerebral emboli (CCE) are a rare stroke cause. This case highlights CCE identification on CT post-cardiac catheterization, aiding stroke understanding.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Radiology
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Calcified cerebral emboli (CCE) represent a rare etiology of stroke.
  • Identification of CCE is crucial for understanding stroke mechanisms and patient outcomes.

Observation:

  • A case report details a patient experiencing stroke symptoms, including right hemiparesis and aphasia, following cardiac catheterization.
  • A calcified embolus was visualized on CT scan within the left middle cerebral artery but was not detected by MRI.

Findings:

  • CT imaging successfully identified the calcified cerebral embolus, a key diagnostic finding.
  • MRI failed to detect the calcified embolus, underscoring potential imaging limitations for CCE.

Implications:

  • This case emphasizes the importance of CT in diagnosing CCE, especially after procedures like cardiac catheterization.
  • Further research into the natural history and treatment of CCE is warranted to improve stroke management strategies.

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