NONCONVULSIVE STATUS EPILEPTICUS AFTER INTRAVENOUS CONTRAST-MEDIUM ADMINISTRATION

Purpose: We describe a 52-year-old man with a glioblastoma multiforme who had a prolonged partial seizure immediately after undergoing a com puted tomography (CT) scan of the head with intravenous contrast mediu m. Methods: Earlier computed tomography (CT) had demonstrated a ring-e nhancing hypodense mass. The patient was treated with a regimen of int ravenous Tirapazamine and brain irradiation. After CT scan performed o n the day of his second hospitalization, the patient became aphasic. E EG showed continuous high-voltage semirhythmic sharp and slow waves in the left posterior temporal and parietal regions consistent with stat us epilepticus (SE). Intravenous lorazepam and a loading dose of pheny toin were administered. Results: On the next morning, the patient's co ndition had improved almost to baseline. He had no recurrent seizures. EEG at 2-month follow-up showed no epileptiform discharges. Conclusio n: This appears to be the first reported case of contrast medium-induc ed status epilepticus.