title: MR imaging of the central nervous system in divers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Magnetic resonanse imaging (MRI) frequently reveals asymptomatic cerebral infarctions in the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The central nervous system (CNS) of divers is affected by a hyperbaric environment even if they are asymptomatic.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 25 uniformed service divers by MRI and compared them with normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 25 divers, 9 had CNS lesions vs. 2 of 25 controls (p = 0.02). There was a significant relationship between the CNS lesions, age, and smoking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The divers had a risk of accumulating CNS lesions. These results suggested that divers should undergo periodic medical evaluations and MRI brain scanning.
authors.affiliation: National Defense Medical College, Department of Traumatology and Critical Care Medicine, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004242:Diving / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009326:Naval Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects