title: Magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging in cerebral fat embolism.
abstract: The use of diffusion weighted imaging with apparent diffusion coefficient mapping in the diagnosis of cerebral fat embolism is shown here to demonstrate infarcts secondary to fat emboli more intensely than T2 weighted sequences 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. Embolic foci are hypointense on apparent diffusion coefficient mapping consistent with cytotoxic edema associated with cell death and restricted water diffusion. This technique increases the sensitivity for detecting cerebral fat embolism and offers a potentially important tool in its diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, AB Canada.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Heale
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herx
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdeen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mrkonjic
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Sevick
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Morrish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D004620:Embolism, Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity