Early magnetic resonance imaging of brainstem lesions after severe head injury

Abstract

Because mean intracranial pressure (ICP) levels in patients without brainstem lesions were similar to those in patients with brainstem lesions, the authors conclude that it was not mainly increased ICP that accounted for the high mortality rates in patients with brainstem lesions. The authors also conclude that brainstem lesions are more frequently found in severe head injury than previously reported in studies based on neuropathological or CT scanning data. Early MR imaging after head injury has a higher predictive value than CT scanning.