ABSTRACT
Objective To study the relationship between the CT value and injury of ultrastructure in posttraumatic acute diffuse brain swelling(PADBS). Methods The change of CT value of brain tissue was analyzed at posttrauma and preoperation in 9 patients, in combination with the ultrastructure in brain parenchyma in 36 specimen taken from operations. The relationship between the descend of CT value and ultrastructure injury was analysed.Results The CT value of brain in preoperation was lower than it in posttrauma first scanning(2.5～4.3 HU).The capillary distention and stenosis and the diffuse edema in pericapillary and intercellular were observed under transmission electron microscopy(TEM). The nucleolus of neuronal cells displaced to membrane or disappeard. Chromation agglutionation, nuclear membrane circuity, perinuclear diffuse lipid drops and blankspace were detected. The mitochondrion swelling, mitochondrial crest blurring or effacement, rough endoplasmic reticulum distension and its’ granules detachmen were also seen under TEM. Axolemma edema, microfilaments and microtubules derangement in axis-cylinder were found too. The similar phenomena existed in astrocyte.Conclusion The descent of CT value in PADBS was relevant to the aggravation of vasogenic cerebral edema, cytotoxic cerebral edema and ultrastructure injury in brain parenchyma.