Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a mentally retarded adult
female who exhibits headbanging behavior are presented. Radiographic
changes include enlargment of the diploic space in the parietal and oc
cipital bones, and gray matter loss adjacent to the bony changes. This
pattern of injury is compared with skull changes previously reported
in headbangers, and neuronal injury seen in boxers (dementia pugilisti
ca) and Minimata disease. Published by Elsevier Science Inc., 1997.