title: Diffusion tensor tractography of traumatic diffuse axonal injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diffuse axonal injury is a common consequence of traumatic brain injury that frequently involves the parasagittal white matter, corpus callosum, and brainstem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the potential of diffusion tensor tractography in detecting diffuse axonal injury at the acute stage of injury and predicting long-term functional outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tract-derived fiber variables were analyzed to distinguish patients from control subjects and to determine their relationship to outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient traumatic brain injury unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2005 to 2006, magnetic resonance images were acquired in 12 patients approximately 7 days after injury and in 12 age- and sex-matched controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six fiber variables of the corpus callosum, fornix, and peduncular projections were obtained. Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended scores were assessed approximately 9 months after injury in 11 of the 12 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At least 1 fiber variable of each region showed diffuse axonal injury-associated alterations. At least 1 fiber variable of the anterior body and splenium of the corpus callosum correlated significantly with the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended scores. The predicted outcome scores correlated significantly with actual scores in a mixed-effects model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion tensor tractography-based quantitative analysis at the acute stage of injury has the potential to serve as a valuable biomarker of diffuse axonal injury and predict long-term outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognition and Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, USA.
authors.forename: Jun Yi
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Khamid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bakhadirov
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Devous
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.forename: Roddy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McColl
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Carlos D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Marquez de la Plata
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Whittemore
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babcock
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rickbeil
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobervich
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.forename: Bao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dao
authors.forename: Nisha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohindra
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaz-Arrastia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020833:Diffuse Axonal Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020712:Fornix, Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013681:Tegmentum Mesencephali / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome