Nadia F. El Ameen MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Hosny Saied Abdelghany MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ahmad Kotb MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of MRI of the brain in women with post partum convulsion and correlate them with clinical data.

In a prospective study, a total of 48 patients (age range from 25 – 37ys; mean 31years) with post partum convulsions and suspected to have CNS complications were collected. The patients were referred from Obstetric and Gynecology Department from a time interval between January 2010 and October 2011. MRI was performed for all patients using a 1-T scanner. All patients were included after meting the inclusion criteria which depends on the clinical history and examination. MRI findings were collected and classified according to final diagnosis.

MRI examination of the brain was positive in 27 (56.3%) out of 48 patients who presented with post partum convulsions. Dural sinus thrombosis was the most frequently encountered finding representing 12/27 (44.4%). Intra cerebral hemorrhage was encountered in 6/27 (22.2%). Posterior reversible encephalopathy and subarachnoid hemorrhage were encountered in 5/ 27 (18.5%) and 3/27 (11.1%) patients respectively. Only one patient had pituitary apoplexy 1/27 (3.7%). The remaining 21 (43.7%) patients had negative MRI.

Post partum convulsion is a serious condition and may be caused by delayed eclampsia or other neurological condition. MRI can solve this mystery and differentiate between variable causes. So MRI of the brain must be routinely done for these patients without delay to ensure correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

MRI and its applications including MRA, MRV and diffusion weighted images must be used and exhusted in evaluation of females with post partum convultions for detection of the cause of convultion   

El Ameen, N, Abdelghany, H, Kotb, A, Post Partum Convulsions a Mystery to Solve: Value of Brain MR Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12022151.html