IMAGING STUDIES OF CEREBRAL HYPERPERFUSION AFTER CAROTID ENDARTERECTOMY - CASE-REPORT

A case is reported of severe unilateral hemispheric edema and localize d hemorrhage associated with seizures following endarterectomy of an i psilateral high-grade carotid stenosis. Imaging studies including angi ography, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging/angi ography, and xenon-CT, suggested postoperative ipsilateral cerebral hy perperfusion. Cerebral hyperperfusion syndromes caused by a probable f ailure of vascular autoregulation are rare but potentially serious com plications after endarterectomy. The literature on this type of compli cation is briefly reviewed, and the role of various imaging modalities in identification of the syndrome and in guiding management decisions is emphasized.