Perfusion Brain Magnetic Resonance Image in Patients of Head Trauma

Kim, Phil Gon; Whang, Kum; Cho, Sung Min; Kim, Hun Joo; Lee, Myeong Sub; Kim, Myung Soon

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.