What causes loss of GREY white differentiation?

Diffuse brain swelling and loss of gray matter (GM)–white matter (WM) differentiation is seen on CT for a variety of “primary” fatal conditions, such as trauma [10], cerebral air embolism [11], acute necrotizing encephalopathy [12], fat-embolism [13], and so on.

What does GREY white matter differentiation mean?

Grey-white differentiation refers to the appearance of the interface between cerebral and cerebellar white matter and grey matter on brain CT and MRI. The term is most often used when trying to differentiate cytotoxic from vasogenic edema.

What does grey matter on a CT scan mean?

The brain consists of grey and white matter structures which are differentiated on CT by differences in density. Grey matter contains relatively few axons and a higher number of cell bodies.

What happens if you lack grey matter?

Since the neuronal cells of the grey matter are constantly working, they require a high supply of oxygen to function efficiently. Therefore when the grey matter does not have access to oxygen, the cells will begin to die, leading to possible irreversible brain damage and loss of function.

What is GREY matter vs white matter?

The gray matter is the areas where the actual “processing” is done whereas the white matter provides the communication between different gray matter areas and between the gray matter and the rest of the body. The neurons in the gray matter consist of neuronal cell bodies and their dendrites.

What does white matter do in the brain?

In the most general sense, the gray matter of the brain facilitates information processing, and the white matter facilitates information transfer; both are critical for efficient operation of the neural networks responsible for a specific mental domain.

What is white matter vs GREY matter?

The white matter refers to those parts of the brain and spinal cord that are responsible for communication between the various gray matter regions and between the gray matter and the rest of the body. In essence, the gray matter is where the processing is done and the white matter is the channels of communication.

Does GREY matter regenerate?

So, gray matter grows and re-grows regularly — but this isn’t gray matter that was lost. Injury to the adult central nervous system (CNS) is devastating because of the inability of central neurons to regenerate correct axonal and dendritic connections.

What is white matter vs grey matter?

Can gray matter grow back?

New neurons grow regularly in a few regions of the brain: the olfactory bulb, the striatum, and the hippocampus. (Maybe other places too.) So, gray matter grows and re-grows regularly — but this isn’t gray matter that was lost.

Can white matter in the brain be repaired?

White matter injuries are very serious, but, depending on the type and extent of the injury, extensive recovery may occur. As long as the neuron cell bodies remain healthy, axons can regrow and slowly repair themselves.

What is the meaning of grey-white differentiation?

Grey-white differentiation refers to the appearance of the interface between cerebral and cerebellar white matter and grey matter on brain CT and MRI.

What is the difference between grey and white edema?

cytotoxic edema (see ionic edema), where there is a loss of grey-white differentiation (i.e. inability to distinguish white matter from grey matter which is typical for infarction and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) and vasogenic edema where there is an accentuation of grey-white differentiation (which is typical for a tumor or abscess)

Where are grey matter structures in the CT brain?

CT Brain Anatomy Grey matter structures 1 Cortical grey matter – CT Brain. 2 Insula – CT Brain. The basal ganglia and the thalamus are important grey matter structures which are located deep to the insula. 3 Basal ganglia and thalamus – CT Brain.

When does grey matter become susceptible to injury?

Grey matter is therefore very susceptible to injury when oxygen levels are low (hypoxia) such as during an ischemic event. Damage also occurs when the local environment changes such as during an intracerebral hemorrhage or when physical damage occurs.