Low field magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography in the demonstration of posttraumatic brain abnormalities.

Thirty patients with a history of head trauma and who had neurologic or neuropsychologic disturbances were examined both with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (0.02 T). The examinations were performed 2 months to 30 years after the trauma. Low field MRI seems to be more sensitive than CT in the demonstration of intraparenchymal post-traumatic abnormalities. In the evaluation of central or cortical brain atrophy MRI and CT were equivalent. Even some patients with the primary diagnosis of concussion had demonstrable organic brain lesions.