A study of persistent post-concussion symptoms in mild head trauma using positron emission tomography
S H A Chen1, D A Kareken, P S Fastenau
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University--Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. annabel.chen@stanford.edu
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|February 18, 2003
Summary
Persistent cognitive deficits after mild head trauma may not show in resting brain scans. A cognitive challenge is needed to reveal subtle changes in cerebral blood flow in patients with post-concussion symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Medical Imaging
- Neurology
Background:
- Mild head trauma often leads to persistent cognitive deficits.
- These deficits are frequently not detected by standard structural brain imaging or neuropsychological tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate in vivo changes in regional cerebral glucose metabolism and blood flow in patients with persistent symptoms after mild head trauma.
- Utilizing Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to assess regional cerebral uptake of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF).
Main Methods:
- FDG-PET scans were used to measure resting regional cerebral glucose metabolism in five patients and five controls.
- Oxygen-15 labelled water (H(2)(15)O)-PET measured regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) changes during a spatial working memory task.
- Neuropsychological testing and symptom self-reports were also collected.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in resting-state glucose metabolism were found between patients and controls in frontal and temporal regions.
- During a spatial working memory task, patients exhibited a reduced increase in rCBF in the right prefrontal cortex compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Resting-state hypometabolism may not be linked to persistent post-concussive symptoms.
- Cognitive challenges might be essential for detecting cerebral alterations following mild head trauma.
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