Abstract

MARIN, R. et al. Hemorrhagic cerebral infarction due to embolization of a mural thrombus within the right ventricle. Cuad. med. forense [online]. 2008, n.52, pp.147-153. ISSN 1988-611X.

Cerebrovascular diseases are due to a disturbance in cerebral blood flow. The most frequent way of presentation is stroke, defined as a sudden and focal neurological impairment with rapid evolution. Cerebral infarction of occlusive origin can be secondary to in situ thrombosis or to embolism from a distal focus. Mural thrombi are the main cause of brain embolism and the middle cerebral artery territory is the most likely affected brain area. We report the case of an 81 year-old woman, with antecedents of Hepatitis C, hypertensive cardiopathy and chronic atrial fibrillation, who suffered a hip fracture due to an accidental fall. A progressive neurological impairment of unknown aetiology appeared during her hospitalization, and she died 9 days after her admission. Forensic autopsy found a hemorrhagic cerebral infarction in the territory of the left middle cerebral artery. As the arteries of the polygon of Willis were patent and there were vital thrombi adhered to the free wall of the right ventricle, thromboembolism was considered the most probable cause of the cerebrovascular event.

Keywords : Cerebrovascular disease; hemorrhagic brain infarction; atrial fibrillation; mural thrombus; forensic pathology.

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