A Scarlet Enemy of the Brain – A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

Abstract

We present two cases of elderly patients admitted with neurological dysfunction due to isolated focal cortical subarachnoid bleeding and intracerebral lobar haemorrhage, respectively. We discuss the distinguishing features in their clinical and radiological presentations which led to their diagnosis of probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). In the hope of encouraging thoughtful learning, we have designed a series of case-based questions with accompanying answers to explain the investigative pathways and management strategies in suspected cases of CAA.

Keywords

• Cerebral amyloid angiopathy
• focal cortical subarachnoid haemorrhage
• intracerebral haemorrhage.
• non-aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage