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Brain atrophy in mild or moderate traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal quantitative analysis
John D MacKenzie1, Faez Siddiqi, James S Babb
1Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|October 10, 2002
Summary
Mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes brain atrophy, especially with loss of consciousness (LOC). This structural brain change is evident months after injury, potentially explaining persistent neurological deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Radiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to lasting neurological issues.
- The specific structural brain changes underlying these sequelae are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify decreases in brain parenchyma volume (VBP) after TBI.
- To identify clinical factors predicting the degree of brain atrophy post-TBI.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of whole-brain MRI scans in 14 TBI patients (mild/moderate) over 3 months.
- Calculation of percent VBP (%VBP) to normalize for cranial size variations.
- Evaluation of clinical parameters, including loss of consciousness (LOC), as predictors of atrophy.
Main Results:
- Longitudinal analysis revealed a significantly greater rate of %VBP decline in TBI patients compared to controls.
- TBI patients with loss of consciousness (LOC) showed significantly more atrophy than those without LOC.
- Brain atrophy was evident an average of 11 months post-trauma.
Conclusions:
- Whole-brain atrophy is a confirmed consequence of mild or moderate TBI.
- Loss of consciousness (LOC) is a significant predictor of increased post-TBI atrophy.
- These findings offer insights into the etiology of persistent neurological deficits following TBI.