Application of diffusion weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain at the Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

Aim: To demonstrate the spectrum of findings (intensities) at Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) of different brain pathology using the l.5T PhillipsIntera MRIscanner. Method: This was a Hospital based prospective study at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) at the Radiology Department using questionnaires, and MRI images. A random sampling was applied to get the patients who underwent brain scan and had a diagnosis as per theclinical and MRIfindings. The signal intensities of brain lesions on diffusion Weighted Imaging were documented. The intensity of the lesion was also described on other sequences e.g. TIW, T2W, FlAIR, e.t.c. The diagnosis was made from both the history and the MRI appearances of the lesions. The data collected from the patients/MRI records was entered in a Microsoft access database and exported to a specialised statistical package for analysis with an assistance of a Bio-statistician. Results: The results are presented in summarised tables; graphs and form the platform for the conclusion and recommendations. Among the lesions described are infarcts, tumours, demyelinating disorders and infective processes. This is further described in the methodology.