Perfusion Brain Magnetic Resonance Image in Patients of Head Trauma

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the findings of magnetic resonance(MR) perfusion study and relation with the prognosis in patients of head trauma. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients with head trauma were evaluated and the findings of brain computed tomography(CT) and MR image were compared with MR perfusion study. We classified perfusion MR findings into 5 categories and correlated with the prognosis. RESULTS: In all 42 patients with head trauma, 38 cases(90.5%) showed new lesions of abnormal perfusion pattern in MR perfusion study compared to CT and conventional MR image. Causes of the trauma were motor vehicle accident(73.8%) falling(16.7%), and blows to the head(7.1%) in order of frequency. The cumulative prevalent sites of focal abnormalities were frontal lobe in 11 cases(39.3%), basal ganglia and thalamus 9 cases(32.1%), temporal lobe 3 cases(10.7%) and parietal lobe 3 cases(10.7%) and occipital lobe 1 case(3.6%) and cerebellum 1 case(3.6%). The pattern of abnormalities in MR perfusion study were focal type in 18 cases(42.8%), diffuse type 18 cases(42.8%), mixed type 4 cases(9.5%). MR perfusion findings showed statistically significant correlation with initial Glasgow Coma Scale score and Glasgow Outcome Scale score(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The patterns of perfusion MR abnormality show significant correlation with the prognosis. Further study is mandatory to define the meaning of perfusion defect area and clinical significance.