Pediatric Cerebral Contusion

Etiology: Trauma may effect cortex under impact (coup) as well as cortex opposite side of impact (contrecoup) because skull and brain move independently and as moving head strikes stationary object the skull rapidly decelerates while brain continues to move
Imaging:
— Gliding contusion common at frontal bone and temporal tips
— Often hemorrhagic
DDX:
Complications:
Treatment:
Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Cerebral Contusion

CT of cerebral contusion — Axial CT without contrast of the brain shows multiple high density punctate intraparenchymal lesions in the bilateral frontal lobes.

CT of cerebral contusion — Axial CT without contrast of the brain (left) shows a subgaleal hematoma anteriorly along with pneumocephalus and multiple areas of high density in the frontal lobes. Examination of the bone windows at the same level (right) shows multiple non-depressed fractures of the frontal bone.

Radiograph of stellate skull fracture and CT of acute subdural hematoma due to accidental trauma — AP and lateral radiographs of the skull show numerous branching lucencies in the right parietal bone. Axial CT without contrast of the brain shows high density material in the right subgaleal tissues, a small high density cresenteric fluid collection in the right extra-axial space that extends posteriorly along the falx, and a mixed low-density and high density lesion in the right posterior parietal brain parenchyma.