injuries and poisoning
Decompression Sickness
Diagnosis of Decompression Sickness
A doctor's evaluation Doctors recognize decompression sickness by the nature of the symptoms and their onset in relation to diving. Tests such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sometimes show brain or spinal cord abnormalities but are not reliable. However, recompression therapy is begun before the results of a CT or MRI scan are available, except in cases in which the diagnosis is uncertain or the diver’s condition is stable. MRI is usually diagnostic of dysbaric osteonecrosis. 