title: Contemporary imaging of mild TBI: the journey toward diffusion tensor imaging to assess neuronal damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To follow the progression of neuroimaging as a means of non-invasive evaluation of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in order to provide recommendations based on reproducible, defined imaging findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature review and analysis of contemporary published articles was performed to study the progression of neuroimaging findings as a non-invasive 'biomarker' for mTBI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple imaging modalities exist to support the evaluation of patients with mTBI, including ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These techniques continue to evolve with the development of fractional anisotropy (FA), fiber tractography (FT), and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modern imaging techniques, when applied in the appropriate clinical setting, may serve as a valuable tool for diagnosis and management of patients with mTBI. An understanding of modern neuroanatomical imaging will enhance our ability to analyse injury and recognize the manifestations of mTBI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, 34800 Bob Wilson Drive, San Diego, CA 92134, USA. chrisfox26@gmail.com
authors.forename: W Christopher
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Min S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Belverud
authors.forename: Arnett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klugh
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rivet
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tomlin
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*