title: Computed tomography perfusion imaging on traumatic cerebral contusion: a preliminary report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brain ischaemia and infarction are the leading factors in morbidity and mortality of traumatic brain injury. This study aimed to determine the perfusion status of pericontusional hypodense areas in traumatic cerebral contusion
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients involved in motor vehicle accidents were enrolled in this study, and contusions were diagnosed from plain computed tomography scans of the brain. Subsequent computed tomography perfusion (CTP) was performed to analyse the perfusion of pericontusional hypodense areas, which were divided into 4 regions of interest (ROI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most ischaemic perfusion was found in ROI 6 (affecting 60% of patients), although the mean of the perfusion parameters were normal. A significant positive correlation was found between the perfusion status in the pericontusional area nearest to the skull vault (ROI 3) and its distance/thickness to the skull vault (r = 0.698, P = 0.025). Two adjacent pericontusional hypodense areas (ROI 4 and ROI 5) showed a significant positive correlation with each other (r = 0.667, P = 0.035) in terms of perfusion status. The presence of a hypodense pericontusional area is suggestive of oedema and perfusion disturbances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTP is a useful, fast, and appropriate method in evaluating perfusion of pericontusional hypodensity area that may help the treating physician to provide an appropriate treatment to the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdul Karim
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ahmad Helmy
authors.forename: Win Mar
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Salmah Jalaluddin
authors.forename: Izaini Ghani
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Ab Rahman