Determine quantitative gray matter and white matter density and its association with mortality in patients with cerebral edema

Abstract

Differentiation of white and gray matter in brain imaging of patients with suspected cerebral edema by CT scan may be effective in determining the patient's prognosis and the treatment approach of choice. The aim of this study was to quantify the gray and white matter of the brain in patients with cerebral edema and compare it with patients without this diagnosis. Materials & Method: In this case-control study, 100 patients underwent CT scan of the brain referred to the radiology department of Imam Reza Hospital. In the case group, patients with diffuse cerebral edema whose edema was not related to malignant processes, trauma, hypoxia, infection, metabolic disorders or acute hypertension were included in the study. In the control group, patients with CT scan of their brains were normal and had no evidence of cerebral edema. In all patients, the quantitative density of gray and white matter of the brain was assessed at four points (codite and putamen nuclei, posterior limbal capsule of the internal capsule and genocorpus callosum and its mean number was recorded.The data of the two groups were compared at the significant level of p <0.05. Results: A total of 50 healthy individuals and 50 individuals with cerebral edema were evaluated. The density of corpus callosum in people with normal CT scan was significantly higher than people with cerebral edema (31 vs. 29, p = 0.001). Codity nucleus density was significantly higher in people with normal CT scan than in people with cerebral edema (35.79 ±5.53 vs. 33.65 ± 3.19, p = 0.002). The density of gray matter in people with normal CT scan was significantly higher than people with cerebral edema (45.43 ± 4.22 vs. 43.09 ± 2.45, p = 0.001). The mean white matter density in people with normal CT scan was significantly higher than people with cerebral edema (53.41 ± 4.87 vs. 51.16 ± 3.93, p = 0.013). The mean density of putamen nucleus in living individuals was 35.96 ± 2.18 and in deceased individuals was 33.76 ± 2.60 (p = 0.002). The average density of white matter in living individuals was 19.19 ± 3.29. 52 and died was 49.78 ± 4.35 (p = 0.032). No difference was observed between the density of the inner capsule, the putamen nucleus and the gray cortex density ratio in individuals with normal CT scans and cerebral edema. There was no significant difference in corpus callosum density, inner capsule, codite nucleus and mean gray cortex density in dead and living individuals.