title: Hounsfield unit changes over time in contusions of the brain.
abstract: In the United States, traumatic brain injuries are an important cause of death and disability, often with significant financial and legal consequences. Although it is generally accepted by neuroradiologists that the density of cerebral contusions decreases over time, previous research has not addressed this phenomenon directly. In the current study, we reviewed charts of patients who had suffered cerebral contusions and had at least two subsequent computed tomography scans in order to determine whether Hounsfield Units, a measure of density, decreased over time. We found that 100% of contusions decreased in Hounsfield Units over time. In addition, we found that the rate of decrease in density appears to be higher in the first 100 days after the injury. These findings are especially applicable in the area of forensics. For example, they could be used to determine the relative age of two separate brain contusions in the same patient.
authors: Medical Student at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Moore
authors: Medical Student at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport.
authors: Addison
authors: A
authors: Willett
authors: Professor of Radiology, Neurology, and Anesthesiology and Director of Neuroradiology and Research at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.
authors: Eduardo
authors: E
authors: Gonzalez-Toledo
authors: Assistant Professor of Surgery at LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport.
authors: Asser
authors: A
authors: Youssef
mesh_terms: D000070624:Brain Contusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed