MRI findings in headbangers

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a mentally retarded adult female who exhibits headbanging behavior are presented. Radiographic changes include enlargment of the diploic space in the parietal and occipital bones, and gray matter loss adjacent to the bony changes. This pattern of injury is compared with skull changes previously reported in headbangers, and neuronal injury seen in boxers (dementia pugilistica) and Minimata disease.