Presentation
Closed head injury, evaluate for brain death.
Patient Data
After intravenous administration of 26.3 mCi of Tc-99m Ceretec, immediate flow images of the head and neck were obtained in the anterior projection followed by 15 minute delayed images of the head and neck in the anterior and lateral projections. On immediate imaging, there is radiotracer flow within the brain. On delayed imaging, radiotracer is within the cerebrum. Brain imaging is not compatible with brain death.
Case Discussion
Nuclear medicine studies are sometimes obtained to confirm a clinical impression of brain death. Absence of intracranial/cerebral radiotracer is compatible with brain death, but in this case, there was preservation of cerebral blood flow.