Question: cerebral edema

[garryp]

A 45-year-old male with a history of hypertension and recent head trauma presents to the emergency department with severe headache, nausea, and confusion. On examination, he is drowsy, with bilateral papilledema noted on fundoscopic examination. Non-contrast CT scan of the head reveals diffuse brain swelling. Which of the following mechanisms is most likely responsible for the cerebral edema seen in this patient?
A) Decreased intracranial pressure B) Increased blood-brain barrier permeability C) Impaired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption D) Excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) E) Decreased intracranial blood volume