Hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign together with pulmonary thromboembolism

BACKGROUND: Hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign is an appearance of the middle cerebral artery on non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Embolic occlusion of the pulmonary arterial system is referred to as pulmonary embolism. When pulmonary embolism coexists with a patent foramen ovale, increased pressure in the right atrium may result in widening of the foramen and consequently, cause serious conditions due to paradoxical embolus. Coexistence of hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign and pulmonary thromboembolism is very rare in the literature. CASE REPORT: We presented a 60-year-old female patient who had both hyperdense middle cerebral artery sign and pulmonary thromboembolism. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, togetherness of hyperdense MCA sign and pulmonary thromboembolism is extremely rare in the literature. In our case, we found both pulmonary embolism due to DVT and paradoxical embolism due to existing patent foramen ovale.