Gradient-echo MRI in defining the severity of cerebral fat embolism

A few studies have found that abnormal findings on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful for diagnosing cerebral fat embolism in the acute stage.

We applied serial MRI to a case of cerebral fat embolism with cognitive impairment lasting for 2 months. Although marked resolution of the previous abnormal findings was demonstrated, T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI revealed multiple tiny lesions.

We suggest that T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI is useful in defining the clinical severity of patients with cerebral fat embolism.