A case of heat stroke showing abnormal diffuse high intensity of the cerebral and cerebellar cortices in diffusion weighted image

Abstract

Cerebellar ataxia is most neurological sequelae in heat stroke. Heat stroke with cerebral cortical lesions is very rare. A 39-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of coma, shock status and hyperthermia on arrival and developed disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Hypotension was transient and all vital signs were resumed to normal within a week. Though normal vital sign, his coma state continued throughout. A diffusion weighted image (DWI) on MRI disclosed abnormal diffuse high intensity in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex without decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). These cortical changes were supported to the vasogenic edema induced by heat stroke. Four months later after the onset, the abnormal signal intensity in the cerebral and cerebellar cortex disappeared and cortical atrophy with ventricular enlargement developed. Electroencephalogram (EEG) of several times showed no electrical activities. The brain SPECT (123I-IMP) disclosed all over decreased blood flow. His vegetative state continued.