ROLE OF MRI IN THE EVALUATION OF DIFFUSE AXONAL INJURY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a relatively less common but severe form of traumatic brain injury. It occurs due to shearing forces and is identied as one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury. MRI is found to be diagnostic when CTndings are normal and there are persistent unexplained neurologic ndings or at subacute and chronic periods. AIM: To evaluate the role of MRI in the diagnosis of diffuse axonal injury. MATERIALAND METHODS: 9 Subjects were identied retrospectively with the diagnosis of DAI on MRI in last 2 years. The 1.5TMRI scans of the patients with DAI included: T1 and T2- weighted imaging, FLAIR imaging and T2*-weighted gradient echo (GRE) imaging. Lesions were identied and compared on all sequences. RESULTS: The lesions were in cerebral white matter location in the cases of mild DAI, whereas in the severe DAI located in basal ganglia, corpus callosum, dorsal part of the brain stem as well as the cerebral white matter. For Haemorrhagic lesions, GRE is the best tool to detect haemorrhagic DAIs. For Non-haemorrhagic lesion, FLAIR and DWI are the best current tool to detect small and non-haemorrhagic parenchymal lesions, displayed as hyperintense lesions.