Computed tomography of shearing injuries of the cerebral white matter

Abstract

Changes secondary to shearing injury of the cerebral white matter can be demonstrated on CT. These consist of eccentric hemorrhage in the corpus callosum, diffuse cerebral swelling, subarachnoid hemorrhage and less frequently, hemorrhage around the third ventricular region and in the cerebral white matter. These CT findings are associated with acute severe neurologic deficits and sequelae. Eight cases with this injury pattern were encountered in 286 acute head injuries. All 8 patients were involved in automobile accidents.