Fatty Density and Air

Abstract

Both fat and air have lower attenuation than water on CT images. Excluding ruptured dermoid cysts, a majority of intracranial fats have no clinical significance. In contrast, intracranial air sometimes indicates serious conditions. If CT attenuation of the lesion is apparently lower than that of the orbital fat, it can be regarded as an air bubble. T1-weighted MRI is useful for differentiating fat from air. Air in the subarachnoid space, called pneumocephalus, is a significant sign of serious head injury. In such cases, there may be cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the risk of meningitis. Iatrogenic pneumocephalus is also observed, including lumbar puncture. Air in the artery is indicative of air embolism, which is a serious condition. It is caused by trauma and iatrogenic procedures. Both, right-to-left shunt in the heart and pulmonary arteriovenous fistula are risk factors for air embolism. Small air bubbles rapidly disappear from the arterial lumen. On the other hand, air in the dural sinuses is iatrogenic but usually asymptomatic. According to anatomical characteristics, air from the left hand easily migrates into the dural sinuses via the left internal jugular vein.