title: Longitudinal study of the diffusion tensor imaging properties of the corpus callosum in acute and chronic diffuse axonal injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) is used increasingly to detect diffuse axonal injury (DAI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective was to investigate the changes in the diffusion properties of the corpus callosum in the acute phase and 6 months after TBI and to examine the correlation between DTI parameters and clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  MR-DTI was performed in eight patients with suspected DAI within 11 days and at 6 months post-injury. Six controls were also examined. Fractional anisotropy (FA), trace and parallel and perpendicular diffusivity of the corpus callosum were analysed. The main outcome was the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score, assessed at 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in FA in the corpus callosum was seen in the acute phase in patients compared with the healthy controls. There was no significant change in the parallel or perpendicular eigenvalues or trace. At 6 months, a significant reduction in FA and a significant increase in trace and perpendicular eigenvalues were noticed compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diffusion properties of the corpus callosum correlated with clinical outcome in this longitudinal investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden. johan.ljungqvist@vgregion.se
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ljungqvist
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ljungberg
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sörbo
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esbjörnsson
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eriksson-Ritzén
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skoglund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020833:Diffuse Axonal Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult