# Feb 2023

- Link: https://isnr.in/feb-2023/
- Published: 2023-02-01T16:28:00+05:30
- Author: ISNR

## Feb 2023

**CASE HISTORY**:

•9 years old child presented to pediatrics emergency with cyanotic spell and headache.
He was a known case of tetralogy of Fallot with a large VSD.

•On examination – the child had peripheral and central cyanosis.

•Child was treated with therapeutic phlebotomy and oxygen inhalation therapy. Cyanosis
improved.

**CASE CONTRIBUTED BY**

Dr Rasi. Dr Khanak. Dr Poonam. Dr Sudhir Saxena.

Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology. AIIMS. Rishikesh.

Dr Diksha Gupta. Department of Pediatrics. AIIMS. Rishikesh.

| [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/feb1.jpg) | [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/feb1-b.jpg) | [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/feb1-c.jpg) | 
| [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/feb1-d.jpg) | [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/feb1-e.jpg) |  |

Images A to D – on resuscitation. initial presentation.Image E – after

| [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/15feb_1.jpg) | [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/15feb_2.jpg) | [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/15feb_3.jpg) | 
| [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/15feb_4.jpg) | [](https://isnr.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/15feb_5.jpg) |  |

Image A – Axial FLAIR image shows multiple curvilinear hyperintensities (white arrows)
in sulcal space and subcortical white matter hyperintensities (circle)
Images B &
C – Axial Minimum intensity projection SWI images show distinctly congested, prominent
and hypointense deeper and cortical veins (black arrows). Image D – Axial MIP image
of time-of-flight MR angiogram shows dilatation of bilateral ICA, MCA and vertebrobasilar
system (black arrows).Image E – Axial Minimum intensity projection SWI image (post
phlebotomy and inhalation oxygen therapy) shows partial reduction in venous congestion.

## Diagnosis

Abnormal cerebral venous appearance and arterial dilatation due to systemic hypoxemia
in tetralogy of Fallot and improvement following treatment.

## Discussion

•Tetralogy of Fallot, a cyanotic heart diseases, causes arterio-venous blood mixing
and resultant reduced blood oxygen saturation.

•Children with complex cyanotic heart diseases have hypoxic brain injury and delayed
brain maturation. Small cerebral strokes, white matter intensities are associated
with cyanotic heart diseases.

•Cerebral venous appearance varies according to blood oxygen saturation, deoxyhemoglobin
levels and is a surrogate marker for hypoxic state ^((1)). Improvement in blood 
oxygen saturation can improve cerebral venous congestion on SWI ^((2,3)).

•Reduced cerebrovascular resistance results in arterial vasodilation. Inversely,
hyperventilation and inhaled oxygen, in children who are scanned with general anesthesia,
can result in higher venous signal on SWI ^((3)).

**References**

•Verma RK, Keller D, Grunt S, Bigi S, Weisstanner C, Wiest R et al. Decreased oxygen
saturation levels in neonates with transposition of great arteries: Impact on appearance
of cerebral veins in susceptibility-weighted imaging. Scientific reports. 2017 Nov
13;7(1):15471.

•Mittal S, Wu Z, Neelavalli J, Haacke EM. Susceptibility-weighted imaging: technical
aspects and clinical applications, part 2. American Journal of neuroradiology. 2009
Feb 1;30(2):232-52.

•Verschuuren S, Poretti A, Buerki S, Lequin MH, Huisman TA. Susceptibility-weighted
imaging of the pediatric brain. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2012 May;198(
5):W440-9.