Background: Magnetic resonanse imaging (MRI) frequently reveals asymptomatic cerebral infarctions in the general population.
Hypothesis: The central nervous system (CNS) of divers is affected by a hyperbaric environment even if they are asymptomatic.
Methods: We examined 25 uniformed service divers by MRI and compared them with normal controls.
Results: Of 25 divers, 9 had CNS lesions vs. 2 of 25 controls (p = 0.02). There was a significant relationship between the CNS lesions, age, and smoking.
Conclusion: The divers had a risk of accumulating CNS lesions. These results suggested that divers should undergo periodic medical evaluations and MRI brain scanning.