MR-IMAGING OF THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN DIVERS

Background: Magnetic resonanse imaging (MRI) frequently reveals asympt omatic cerebral infarctions in the general population. Hypothesis:The central nervous system (CNS) of divers is affected by a hyperbaric env iroment even if they are asymptomatic. Methods: We examined 25 uniform ed service divers by MRI and compared them with normal controls. Resul ts: Of 25 divers, 9 had CNS lesions vs. 2 of 25 controls (p = 0.02). T here was a significant relationship between the CNS lesions, age, and smoking. Conclusion: The divers had a risk of accumulating CNS lesions . These results suggested that divers should undergo periodic medical evaluations and MRI brain scanning.