Cerebral fat embolism (CFE): investigations

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

Cerebral fat embolism (CFE): investigations. White matter lesions: these are in the cerebrum, corpus callosum, and basal ganglia.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): lesions

  • White matter lesions: these are in the cerebrum, corpus callosum, and basal ganglia
  • ‘Starfield’ punctate restriction pattern: this is on diffusion weighted sequences
  • Multiple punctate haemorrhagic lesions: these are on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI)
  • Gradient echo sequence: this demonstrates the severity

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): radiological stages

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differentials

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Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)

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Computed tomography (CT)

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Other imaging tests

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Echocardiogram

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References

  1. Citerio G, Bianchini E, Beretta L. Magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral fat embolism: a case report. Intensive Care Med 1995; 21:679-681.
  2. Kawano Y, Ochi M, Hayashi K, Morikawa M, Kimura S. Magnetic resonance imaging of cerebral fat embolism. Neuroradiology 1991; 33:72-74.
  3. Aravapalli A, Fox J, Lazaridis C. Cerebral fat embolism and the "starfield" pattern: a case report. Cases J 2009; 2:212.
  4. Malgapo KKL, Osman C, Prevett M. Cerebral fat embolism: the value of susceptibility-weighted imaging. Pract Neurol 2018; 18:336-338.
  5. Zaitsu Y, Terae S, Kudo K, et al. Susceptibility-weighted imaging of cerebral fat embolism. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2010; 34:107-112.
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