Radionuclide cisternography after head injury

Thirty-seven patients with severe head injury underwent radionuclide cisternography to detect early and late effects of trauma on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation. Thirty-one patients had subdural hematomas or hygromas and six had cerebral contusions without extracerebral masses. Cisternographic results were abnormal in 23 patients with subdural masses and normal in five who had only cerebral contusions. Of eight patients undergoing serial studies, one had persistent partial obstruction, five had partial resolution of abnormalities, and the two with progressive obstruction had their conditions improved by shunting. Angiography suggested transtentorial herniation in 11 patients with cisternal block, six of whom had clinical signs of herniation on the same side