Early Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Findings in Hypoxic-Anoxic Injury

Abstract

Anoxic brain injury can lead to death or permanent neurological defects involving memory, personality, vision, and language. It is well established that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), allows for earlier and more accurate diagnosis than computed tomography for this type of insult. Here we describe three cases of diffuse cerebral anoxia in which conventional MRI in the early subacute phase demonstrated near normal findings and abnormalities were most evident on DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient maps. The cases presented are unique and instructive as these abnormalities could be mistakenly interpreted as normal due to their uniform and symmetric appearance.