Question

A male patient with recent history of RTA was brought to hospital. His CT scan was normal, but he died within three hours of admission. Autopsy revealed retraction ball appearance and petechial hemorrhages in the corpus callosum. What is the most likely diagnosis?

• A. Diffuse vascular injury
• B. Diffuse axonal injury
• C. Intracerebral hemorrhage
• D. None of the above

Hint:

RTA with normal CT but fatal coma and axonal retraction balls = diffuse axonal injury.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept: Diffuse axonal injury occurs due to acceleration-deceleration trauma causing shearing injury to axons. It may have minimal findings on early CT.

Step 1: Identify mechanism.
Road traffic accident can cause acceleration-deceleration brain injury.

Step 2: Use autopsy clue.
Retraction balls and petechial hemorrhages in corpus callosum are characteristic of: \[ \text{Diffuse axonal injury} \]

Step 3: Choose diagnosis.
Therefore, the most likely diagnosis is: \[ \text{Diffuse axonal injury} \]