Non-enhanced CT mimicking contrast enhanced CT -a case report on polycythemia

Abstract

Diffuse hyperdense cerebral vasculature is sometimes encountered on non-enhanced computed tomography, and polycythemia is one of the conditions which appears the same. The current case report is of a case of 37-year-old female patient arrived with a complaint of feeling severe headache for the past 3 days which was insidious in onset, diffuse in nature and it did not respond to any medication. NECT brain study showed the hyperdense circle of Willis and cerebral venous sinuses. Contrast was not administered for computed tomography study of the brain. On blood investigations, the patient had raised hematocrit level (74%). The hyperdense vessel was due to raised hematocrit (Polycythemia Vera).