Clinical application of magnetic resonance in acute traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with acute traumatic brain injury (TBI): to identify the type, quantity, severity; and improvement clinical-radiological correlation.


METHODS
Assessment of 55 patients who were imaged using CT and MRI, 34 (61.8%) males and 21 (38.2%) females, with acute (0 to 5 days) and closed TBI.


RESULTS
Statistical significant differences (McNemar test): ocurred fractures were detected by CT in 29.1% and by MRI in 3.6% of the patients; subdural hematoma by CT in 10.9% and MRI in 36.4 %; diffuse axonal injury (DAI) by CT in 1.8% and MRI in 50.9%; cortical contusions by CT in 9.1% and MRI in 41.8%; subarachnoid hemorrhage by CT in 18.2% and MRI in 41.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI was superior to the CT in the identification of DAI, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cortical contusions, and acute subdural hematoma; however it was inferior in diagnosing fractures. The detection of DAI was associated with the severity of acute TBI.
Morais
Dionei F
DF
Serviço de Neurocirurgia, Departamento de Ciências Neurológicas, Hospital de Base, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. centro@cerebroecoluna.com.br
Spotti
Antonio R
AR
Tognola
Waldir A
WA
Gaia
Felipe F P
FF
Andrade
Almir F
AF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed