[Cranial magnetic resonance imaging and serum marker S-100 for expert opinions in severe brain injuries].

: Detailed imaging of the brain is necessary to come to an expert opinion on the consequences of severe brain injuries (BI). As lesions are not visualised on computerised tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and serum marker S-100 are currently favoured. Our study analyses the predictive qualities of MRI and S-100 for the outcome in severe BI in 100 patients. The location of brain stem lesions identified with the aid of MRI significantly correlated with the outcome. Special types of brain stem lesions could be distinguished. S-100 was a rough measure for the amount of destruction of CNS tissue, but the exact location of the destroyed tissue appeared to be more significantly related with the outcome than its volume. For an expert opinion on severe BI, follow up MRI after brain injury can definitely not exclude relevant lesions. Early MRI is recommended.