Magnetic resonance imaging in head injured patients with normal late computed tomography scans.

In 11 patients who had undergone blunt head injuries, computed tomography (CT) scans of the brain performed 4-24 months posttrauma were normal. The patients showed a variety of cognitive and behavioral disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies revealed abnormalities that were mainly confined to the frontal and temporal lobes. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed signals of increased intensity compatible with old contusions, loss of discrimination between gray and white matter, and irregular brain contours. It is suggested that MRI of the brain is a more sensitive technique than CT in the detection of brain lesions during the late posttraumatic period, allowing a better understanding of the patient's clinical and neurobehavioral disturbances.