CT and plain X-ray examination of the skull in pure traumatic laceration of the brain.

The authors reviewed a series of 68 brain lacerations. Patients with associated subdural hematomas and/or depressed skull fracture were excluded from this study. The material has been divided in three groups: mainly hypodense, mainly hyperdense and mixed lesions. Clinical outcome was evaluated according to the various features of parenchymal lesions: CT aspect, mass effect and site. The presence of a considerable amount of blood suggests an unfavourable prognosis while the site and the mass effect do not seem to influence the course of the disease.