PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J. Kamtchum Tatuene
AU  - R. Pignel
AU  - P. Pollak
AU  - K.O. Lovblad
AU  - A. Kleinschmidt
AU  - M.I. Vargas
TI  - Neuroimaging of Diving-Related Decompression Illness: Current Knowledge and Perspectives
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A4005
DP  - 2014 Nov 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 2039--2044
VI  - 35
IP  - 11
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/35/11/2039.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/35/11/2039.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2014 Nov 01; 35
AB  - SUMMARY: Diving-related decompression illness is classified into 2 main categories: arterial gas embolism and decompression sickness. The latter is further divided into types 1 and 2, depending on the clinical presentation. MR imaging is currently the most accurate neuroimaging technique available for the detection of brain and spinal cord lesions in neurologic type 2 decompression sickness. Rapid bubble formation in tissues and the bloodstream during ascent is the basic pathophysiologic mechanism in decompression illness. These bubbles can damage the central nervous system through different mechanisms, namely arterial occlusion, venous obstruction, or in situ toxicity. Neuroimaging studies of decompression sickness have reported findings associated with each of these mechanisms: some typical results are summarized and illustrated in this article. We also review the limitations of previous work and make practical methodologic suggestions for future neuroimaging studies.