Functional MR imaging assessment of a non-responsive brain injured patient.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was requested to assist in the evaluation of a comatose 38-year-old woman who had sustained multiple cerebral contusions from a motor vehicle accident. Previous electrophysiologic studies suggested absence of thalamocortical processing in response to median nerve stimulation. Whole-brain fMRI was performed utilizing visual, somatosensory, and auditory stimulation paradigms. Results demonstrated intact task-correlated sensory and cognitive blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) hemodynamic response to stimuli. Electrodiagnostic studies were repeated and evoked potentials indicated supratentorial recovery in the cerebrum. At 3-months post trauma the patient had recovered many cognitive & sensorimotor functions, accurately reflecting the prognostic fMRI evaluation. These results indicate that fMRI examinations may provide a useful evaluation for brain function in non-responsive brain trauma patients.
Moritz
C H
CH
Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. cmoritz@mail.radiology.wisc.edu
Rowley
H A
HA
Haughton
V M
VM
Swartz
K R
KR
Jones
J
J
Badie
B
B
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D020207:Coma, Post-Head Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011379:Prognosis