Functional MR imaging assessment of a non-responsive brain injured patient

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was requested to assist in the evaluation of a comatose 38-year-old woman who had sustained multiple cere bral contusions from a motor vehicle accident. Previous electrophysiologic studies suggested absence of thalamocortical processing in response to medi an nerve stimulation. Whole-brain fMRI was performed utilizing visual, soma tosensory, and auditory stimulation paradigms. Results demonstrated intact task-correlated sensory and cognitive blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) h emodynamic response to stimuli. Electrodiagnostic studies were repeated and evoked potentials indicated supratentorial recovery in the cerebrum. At 3- months post trauma the patient had recovered many cognitive & sensorimotor functions, accurately reflecting the prognostic fMRI evaluation. These resu lts indicate that fMRI examinations may provide a useful evaluation for bra in function in non-responsive brain trauma patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.