Abstract:
To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of spinal cord decompression sickness (DCS) on compressed-air divers, we hereby report seven cases diagnosed with spinal cord DCS. Only two patients out of seven showed positive MRI findings: A detailed case report will be provided on each. In one of the cases, the MRI revealed extensive high signal within the central gray matter of the spinal cord. The other one showed patchy high signal on T2-weighted images as well as diffusion-weighted images (DWI) in the dorsal column white matter of the spinal cord. The findings in our collective suggest that the MRI focused on the spinal cord is not always appropriate for obtaining a quick diagnosis. The discrepancy between MRI findings and clinical evolution leads to the conclusion that MRI focused on the spinal cord does not always correlate with neurological improvement. Decision for hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment should not be based primarily on MRI findings.
Gao, Xie, Wu, Sun, Yang, Guan, Yu, Xue, (). The relevance of magnetic resonance imaging in spinal cord decompression sickness: a survey of seven cases. Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc, ;41(2):105-9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24851547