Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agent Extravasation Mimicking Subarachnoid Hemorrhage After Electroconvulsive Therapy.

BACKGROUND

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a safe method that has been applied for many years in medical treatment-resistant depression treatment. In this case report, contrast extravasation due to deterioration of the blood-brain barrier after ECT mimicking subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is discussed.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 70-year-old male patient who underwent ECT presented with sulcal hyperintensities suggesting subarachnoid hemorrhage on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence of MRI obtained after ECT. However, there was no evidence to suggest SAH on nonenhanced brain computed tomography.

CONCLUSION

It should be kept in mind that patients may have contrast extravasation due to deterioration of the blood-brain barrier after ECT, and other alternative methods should be used for the diagnosis of SAH in these patients, not MRI.