RESUMO
Objective To describe MRI findings of acute spinal cord decompression sickness.Methods MRI findings of 5 cases with clinical definite acute spinal cord decompression sickness were retrospectively analyzed.The main clinical informations included underwater performance history against regulations,short-term complete or incomplete spinal cord injury symptoms after fast going out of water,sensory disability and urinary and fecal incontinence,etc.Results Spinal cord vacuole sign was found in all 5 cases.Iso-signal intensity(n=3),high signal intensity(n=1),and low signal intensity (n=1)was demonstrated on T1 WI,and high signal intensity(n=5)was found on T2 WI.Owl eye sign was detected in 3 cases,and lacune foci were seen in 2 cases.Conclusion MRI findings of acute spinal cord decompression sickness had some characteristics,and it was easy to diagnose by combining diving history with clinical manifestations.