Cerebral fat embolism

Neuropathological findings of a male patient of 50 years who survived for six months after massive cerebral fat embolism in a decorticated state were reported. The lesions were characterized by numerous patchy necrosis and areas of demyelination in the white matter of cerebral hemispheres, thalamus and brain stem, with Wallerian’s degeneration of cortico-spinal tract of brain stem. The mechanism of decortication syndrome by fat embolism was discussed.