Marshall classification

CT abnormalities in brain trauma

Diffuse injury I (no visible pathology)

No visible intracranial pathology seen on CT scan

Diffuse injury II

Cisterns are present with midline shift of 0-5 mm and/or lesions densities present; no high or mixed density lesion >25 cm³ may include bone fragments and foreign bodies

Diffuse injury III (swelling)

Cisterns compressed or absent with midline shift of 0-5 mm; no high or mixed density lesion >25 cm³

Diffuse injury IV (shift)

Midline shift >5 mm; no high or mixed density lesion >25 cm³

Evacuated mass lesion

Any lesion surgically evacuated

Non-evacuated mass lesion

High or mixed density lesion >25 cm³; not surgically evacuated Reference
Maas AIR, Hukkelhoven CWPM, Marshall LF, Steyerberg EW. Prediction of outcome in traumatic brain injury with computed tomographic characteristics: a comparison between the computed tomographic classification and combinations of computed tomographic predictors. Neurosurgery. 2005 Dec.;57(6):1173-82