Neurol. praxi. 2025;26(2):122-128 | DOI: 10.36290/neu.2025.005

Brain death diagnosis and the role of diagnostic imaging

MUDr. Martin Vorčák, Ph.D.1, MUDr. Hubert Poláček, PhD.2, MUDr. Zuzana Gešvandtner Trabalková, MPH1, MUDr. Daniel Evin, PhD.2, MUDr. Martin Števík, PhD.1, doc. MUDr. Kamil Zeleňák, PhD., FCIRSE1
1 Rádiologická klinika JLF UK a UNM, Martin
2 Klinika nukleárnej medicíny JLF UK a UNM, Martin

Brain death remains a clinical diagnosis, based mainly on clinical criteria. Ancillary tests, including diagnostic imaging, are used to confirm the absence of cerebral perfusion when clinical findings are inconclusive. Imaging methods like DSA, perfusion scintigraphy and transcranial Doppler can provide critical, legally required data to support the diagnosis. Despite ongoing efforts, there is no global consensus on the optimal ancillary test, with practices varying by the region. Modern techniques like CT angiography (CTA), MR imaging, CT perfusion and time-invariant CTA, offer increasingly accurate outcomes. However, further validation is needed, particularly for pediatric patients. Early brain death diagnosis is crucial to avoid unnecessary interventions and to support timely organ transplantation.

Keywords: brain death, ancillary tests, diagnostic imaging, DSA, scintigraphy, CTA.

Received: December 12, 2024; Revised: January 15, 2025; Accepted: January 16, 2025; Prepublished online: January 16, 2025; Published: May 5, 2025  Show citation

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Vorčák M, Poláček H, Gešvandtner Trabalková Z, Evin D, Števík M, Zeleňák K. Brain death diagnosis and the role of diagnostic imaging. Neurol. praxi. 2025;26(2):122-128. doi: 10.36290/neu.2025.005.
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