Brain under pressure: Insights into diving-related lesions: a descriptive study

Diving-related injuries remain as a significant health threat, when involvement of the central nervous system (CNS). Decompression sickness (DCS), particularly type II involving neurological symptoms, can lead to brain lesions though specific patterns.

This study aims to characterize the clinical and radiological features of brain involvement in diving-related injuries, with a focus on corpus callosum lesions.

We conducted a retrospective study from 2011 to 2023 in the neurology department of a military hospital in Tunis, including divers with acute neurological injuries. Data were collected on diving history, clinical presentations, and radiological findings. MRI protocols included T1, T2, FLAIR, gradient echo, and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences.

Among 41 enrolled patients, 10 exhibited cerebral involvement, all male professional divers with a mean age of 41 years. Symptoms manifested within 10 min of surfacing in 65.8 % of cases and included sensory-motor deficits, vertigo, and headache. MRI revealed diverse patterns: corpus callosum hyperintensities on T2 FLAIR in five cases, an acute ischemic stroke in one patient, and punctiform or nodular lesions in others. DWI abnormalities suggested both cytotoxic and vasogenic edema.

Cerebral DCI presents with variable clinical and radiological patterns. Corpus callosum involvement is a hallmark finding, reflecting its vulnerability to ischemia and vasogenic edema. Early detection through a detailed clinical examination allows targeted follow up and recompression therapy. Future research should focus on integrating clinical and imaging data to identify prognostic factors and improve management strategies.