The authors present the results of CT, MRI and cerebral angiography of patients in coma assembled in 1995–2000. The authors examined 29 patients, the majority with severe closed head injuries (10) and 11 patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular attacks. Fewer patients (5) suffered from subarachnoid haemorrhage, two had a tumour in the posterior fossa and one thrombosis of the sinuses. A total of 41 examinations were made as some were repeated and some were duplicates. CT examinations were made in the acute stage of the disease in all patients except two where a MRI examination was made first. In the group of patients with an injury the CT examination contributed to the diagnosis in all of them. Three times a subdural haematoma was involved, once an epidural haematoma, in the remainder there was severe diffuse axonal damage. In the group of patients with ischaemic lesions CT examination of the brain was made first. Two patients had thrombosis of the basilar artery in the remainder descendent, ascendent, transtentorial herniations and extracranial hernations of the cerebral tissue were involved. In patients with tumours in the posterior fossa MRI contributed towards the final diagnosis. Patients with SAH, tumours in the posterior fossa and thrombosis of the sinuses the authors made also an angiographic examination.

        Key words: coma, CT, MRI examination, angiography