Gradient-Echo MRI in Defining the Severity of Cerebral Fat Embolism

BACKGROUND: A few studies have found that abnormal findings on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are useful for diagnosing cerebral fat embolism in the acute stage. CASE REPORT: We applied serial MRI to a case of cerebral fat embolism with cognitive impairment lasting for 2 months. Although marked resolution of the previous abnormal findings was demonstrated, T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI revealed multiple tiny lesions. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI is useful in defining the clinical severity of patients with cerebral fat embolism.