The boomerang sign is a radiological finding observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, particularly in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences. It refers to a characteristic boomerang-shaped area of restricted diffusion in the splenium of the corpus callosum due to cytotoxic edema. This sign is associated with various neurological conditions and is considered a non-specific marker of splenial pathology, often reversible depending on the underlying cause.
Anatomy and appearance
The splenium of the corpus callosum is the posterior part of the corpus callosum, a major white matter structure connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. On MRI, the boomerang sign appears as a boomerang-shaped hyperintense area on DWI. There is a corresponding low signal intensity on the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, indicating true restricted diffusion. The sign is often localized within the central or posterior splenium.
References
- Pandian, Jeyaraj Durai; Henderson, Robert D. (5 December 2005). ""Boomerang sign" in the splenium of the corpus callosum". Medical Journal of Australia. 183 (11). ISSN 0025-729X. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ^ Starkey, Jay; Kobayashi, Nobuo; Numaguchi, Yuji; Moritani, Toshio (March 2017). "Cytotoxic Lesions of the Corpus Callosum That Show Restricted Diffusion: Mechanisms, Causes, and Manifestations". RadioGraphics. 37 (2): 562–576. doi:10.1148/rg.2017160085. ISSN 0271-5333. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- Mathew, Thomas. ""Boomerang Plus Sign" in Rickettsial Encephalitis". Pediatric Neurology. Retrieved 5 January 2025.