Pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage in a patient with hypoxic encephalopathy

The authors report an unusual case of diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage on brain computed tomography (CT) scan in a patient with post-resuscitation anoxic encephalopathy. A 42-year-old woman suffered both respiratory and cardiac arrest, associated with hypoxic encephalopathy, which occurred during a visit to our gynecology clinic. CT examination was performed the next day, which revealed a hyperdensity in the basal cisterns with a diffuse cerebral edema. Lumbar puncture was applied for diagnosis. No yellow coloration or red cells were observed in the cerebrospinal fluid. Nineteen days after treatment, the CT examination revealed features of a subarachnoid hemorrhage with a significantly increased cerebral edema. The patient died two months later. This clinical case illustrates that hypoxic encephalopathy can mimic diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage on CT scan.