Day: January 15, 2024

Teenager in motor vehicle accident with altered mental status

CT of diffuse axonal injury
Axial CT without contrast of the brain obtained initially (left) shows loss of delineation of the cortical sulci and ventricular system. Axial CT without contrast obtained two days later (right) now also shows a round focus of hyperdensity at the right parietal gray matter white matter junction.

The diagnosis was diffuse cerebral edema and delayed appearance of diffuse axonal injury.