Stroke / Intracerebral Bleed Secondary to Endocarditis
This exhibit demonstrates the progression of infective bacterial endocarditis leading to intracerebral bleeding. Endocarditis is the inflammation of the inner tissues of the heart. Bacterial vegetations form on the valves of the heart, then travel through the bloodstream to the brain as either an embolus (piece of vegetation) or as an infection (bacterial arteritis). The embolus/arteritis compromises blood flow within the brain, causing hemorrhaging and stroke. The intracerebral bleeds can be seen in an axial brain MRI forming a large, acute, right parietofrontal hematoma.