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cerebral edema  swelling of the brain caused by the accumulation of fluid in the brain substance. It may result from head injury, stroke, infection, hypoxia, brain tumors, obstructive hydrocephalus, or lead encephalopathy; it may also be caused by disturbances in fluid and electrolyte balance that accompany hemodialysis and diabetic ketoacidosis. The most common type is vasogenic edema, and another type is cellular edema from ischemia or hypoxia of the brain. Because the brain is enclosed in the skull, edema compresses blood vessels and decreases blood flow, which causes ischemia and hypoxia and then further edema; this can destroy brain tissue and cause death.




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