Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
10:33

Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: August 14, 2019

Susceptibility weighted imaging depicts retinal hemorrhages in abusive head trauma

Giulio Zuccoli1, Ashok Panigrahy, Anshul Haldipur

  • 1Department of Pediatric Radiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA. giulio.zuccoli@gmail.com

Neuroradiology
|April 10, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) susceptibility weighted images (SWI) can detect retinal hemorrhages (RH) in abusive head trauma (AHT). A specialized high-resolution orbits SWI protocol improves RH detection compared to standard brain MRI protocols.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Radiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Abusive head trauma (AHT) often presents with retinal hemorrhages (RH).
  • Diagnosing AHT relies on identifying RH, typically via dilated fundus examination (DFE).
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is a non-invasive technique that may detect RH.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of MRI SWI in detecting RH in suspected AHT cases.
  • To compare the diagnostic capability of standard brain MRI SWI sequences versus a dedicated high-resolution orbits SWI protocol for RH detection.
  • To assess the sensitivity and specificity of MRI SWI for RH identification against the gold standard DFE.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, observational study of 28 patients with suspected AHT.
  • DFE and brain MRI-SWI were performed on all patients.
  • Standard and high-resolution orbits SWI sequences were analyzed for RH detection.

Main Results:

  • Standard brain MRI-SWI detected RH in 62% of patients with RH confirmed by DFE.
  • A dedicated orbits SWI protocol increased RH detection to 80%.
  • MRI SWI showed 75% sensitivity with standard protocols, increasing to 83% with the orbits protocol; no RH were detected in patients without DFE-confirmed RH.

Conclusions:

  • MRI SWI is a valuable tool for detecting RH in AHT.
  • A tailored, high-resolution orbits SWI protocol enhances the detection rate of RH.
  • MRI SWI, particularly with an orbits protocol, shows promise as a supplementary diagnostic method for AHT.

More Related Videos

Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury07:21

Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: May 27, 2022

Imaging Vital and Non-vital Brain Pericytes in Brain Slices following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage05:11

Imaging Vital and Non-vital Brain Pericytes in Brain Slices following Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Published on: August 18, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:29

Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

A hemorrhagic stroke develops when a cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to escape into the surrounding brain tissue, as in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or into the subarachnoid space, as in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Because the skull is a rigid compartment, the sudden presence of extravascular blood rapidly increases intracranial pressure and compresses adjacent neural structures, leading to immediate tissue injury and impaired cerebral perfusion.Mass Effect and Primary...
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction01:17

Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction

A hemorrhagic stroke is an acute neurological event that occurs when a weakened cerebral blood vessel ruptures, allowing blood to accumulate within or around the brain. The sudden release of blood forms a focal hematoma that increases intracranial pressure, displaces neural tissue, and can obstruct cerebrospinal fluid pathways. These effects may be compounded by intraventricular extension of the hemorrhage, cerebral edema, or compression of adjacent structures, all of which contribute to...