The role of advanced MR imaging findings as biomarkers of traumatic brain injury.
Treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI) requires proper classification of the pathophysiology. Clinical classifiers and conventional neuroimaging are limited in TBI detection, outcome prediction, and treatment guidance. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques such as susceptibility weighted imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging are sensitive to microhemorrhages, white matter injury, and abnormal metabolic activities, respectively, in brain injury. In this article, we reviewed these 3 advanced MRI methods and their applications in TBI and report some new findings from our research. These MRI techniques have already demonstrated their potential to improve TBI detection and outcome prediction. As such, they have demonstrated the capacity of serving as a set of biomarkers to reveal the heterogeneous and complex nature of brain injury in a regional and temporal manner. Further longitudinal studies using advanced MRI in a synergistic approach are expected to provide insight in understanding TBI and imaging implications for treatment.
Kou
Zhifeng
Z
Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Wu
Zhen
Z
Tong
Karen A
KA
Holshouser
Barbara
B
Benson
Randall R
RR
Hu
Jiani
J
Haacke
E Mark
EM
D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D020201:Brain Hemorrhage, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D055806:Microvessels / Q000293:injuries; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers