MRI findings in cerebral fat embolism

The purpose of this retrospective study was to demonstrate the MRI features of cerebral manifestations in patients with fat embolism syndromes in comp arisons with cerebral CT (CCT). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed ac cording to standard protocols revealing multiple small non-confluent hyperi ntense intracerebral lesions larger than 2 mm on proton-density and T2-weig hted images to various extents in three of four patients with clinically su spected cerebral fat embolism. Cerebral CT was negative in all patients. Ou r findings confirm that MRI can detect cerebral fat embolism with a higher sensitivity than CCT. Thus, MRI should be the first choice for imaging of c erebral fat embolism.