Periodic EEG discharges and status spongiosus of the cerebral cortex in anoxic encephalopathy: A necropsy case report

Abstract

A periodic EEG pattern very similar to the changes in Creutzfeld-Jakob disease was seen in a case of anoxic encephaolopathy. Necropsy revealed status spongiosus of the cerebral cortex. Generalized repetitive sharp transients in anoxic encephalopathy occur when the patient is comatose and carry a poor prognosis. They are not specific for Creutzfeld-Jakob disease.