<title>Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected stroke or traumatic brain injury</title>

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a diagnostic tool in patients with suspected stroke or brain injury S. Goldberg, C. Lott, M. Ostermeyer, H.-J. Hennes Absorption of Near-Infrared (NIR) light in the brain is mainly caused by hemoglobin. Superficial intracranial hematoma with a higher concentration of hemoglobin causes a higher absorption in NIRS. The existence of hemorrhage can be demonstrated by the difference of optical density, comparing identical measuring points at both hemispheres of the brain: absorption of NIR light is greater at the side of the hemorrhage, causing less reflection in NIRS. In a prospective, blinded study, 100 patients who were scheduled for CCT-scan for brain inj…