The significance of nonvisualization of the cortical sulcal spaces on computed tomography

In 15 patients unilateral effacement of the cortical sulcal spaces was the only CT abnormal finding; 12 patients had an isodense chronic subdural hematoma, two had unilateral cerebral edema and one had subarachnoid inflammatory exudate only. Fifteen other patients had unilateral nonvisualization of the cortical sulcal spaces with abnormal densities and enhancement which were the more specific diagnostic findings to establish the diagnosis of an intracerebral lesion in 12 and in three this was due to subarachnoid blood with an accompanying hematoma.