[The role of the Scanner in traumatic cerebral pathology (author transl)]

The authors describe the tomodensitometric characteristics of various traumatic cerebral lesions: extradural haematoma, subdural haematoma, contusion. In the acute phase, traumatic lesions are characterised by the typical absorption pattern of the bloody effusion and perilesional oedema. In association with these specific densitometric signs there is naturally an alteration in normal cerebral anatomy. The course of traumatic lesions may be followed using the scanner. The signs alter with resorption of the haemorrhage and the regression of oedema, as well as with the secondary development of a focal atrophic process. The advantages of the scanner over oconventional neuroradiology are considerable, not only from a medical and technical standpoint, but also for ethical and medicolegal considerations.