Subarachnoid Enhancement Secondary to Subarachnoid Hemorrhage with Special Reference to the Clinical Significance and Pathogenesis

Abstract

Contrast-enhanced computed tomographic scans of 30 patients with acute subarachnoid hemorrhage due to ruptured intracranial aneurysm were analyzed in relation to subarachnoid enhancement and clinical features. In 15 cases, subarachnoid enhancement was noted either early or late during the clinical progress of subarachnoid hemorrhage. In the positive group, hydrocephalus and cerebral infarction due to vasospasm frequently accompanied enhancement during the early stage of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The diffuse type of subarachnoid enhancement was most valuable for predicting cerebral infarction due to vasospasm. The authors review the literature on the pathogenesis of subarachnoid enhancement.