title: Brain pathology after mild traumatic brain injury: an exploratory study by repeated magnetic resonance examination.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore brain pathology after mild traumatic brain injury by repeated magnetic resonance examination.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with mild traumatic brain injury presenting with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 14-15.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were examined on day 2 or 3 and 3-7 months after the injury. The magnetic resonance protocol comprised conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences including fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), two susceptibility-weighted sequences to reveal haemorrhages, and diffusion-weighted sequences. Computer-aided volume comparison was performed. Clinical outcome was assessed by the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, 7 patients (37%) reported ≥  3 symptoms in RPQ, 5 reported some anxiety and 1 reported mild depression. Fifteen patients reported upper level of good recovery and 4 patients lower level of good recovery (GOSE 8 and 7, respectively). Magnetic resonance pathology was found in 1 patient at the first examination, but 4 patients (21%) showed volume loss at the second examination, at which 3 of them reported < 3 symptoms and 1 ≥ 3 symptoms, all exhibiting GOSE scores of 8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loss of brain volume, demonstrated by computer-aided magnetic resonance imaging volumetry, may be a feasible marker of brain pathology after mild traumatic brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation Medicine, Sandviken Hospital, SE-811 89 Sandviken, Sweden. marianne.lannsjo@lg.se
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lannsjö
authors.forename: Raili
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raininko
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.forename: Charlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Seth
authors.forename: Jörgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult