[Magnetic resonance in the pathologic evaluation of the isolated human brain].

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interest of MRI of excised human brains before traditional pathological examination. MRI was performed on 40 formalin fixed brain specimen; the brains were placed on tap water in a plastic box, and submitted to standard MRI, 3D FT volume acquisition and multislice SE T1, PD and T2 weighted. The results of 3D FT volume acquisition were used for multiplanar reconstruction of planes according to the direction of anatomical structures. Our experience demonstrate that preliminary MRI of excised brains is possible because it does not alternate the results of following standard pathological examinations; the dissection may be focused on the MRI demonstrated pathology. MRI allows to correlate the results of the pathological examination of a slice with the state of the whole brain. An interesting option is the use of this method for medico-legal purpose.