Neuroimaging biomarkers in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)

Neuropsychol Rev. 2013 Sep;23(3):169-209. doi: 10.1007/s11065-013-9237-2. Epub 2013 Aug 24.

Abstract

Reviewed herein are contemporary neuroimaging methods that detect abnormalities associated with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Despite advances in demonstrating underlying neuropathology in a subset of individuals who sustain mTBI, considerable disagreement persists in neuropsychology about mTBI outcome and metrics for evaluation. This review outlines a thesis for the select use of sensitive neuroimaging methods as potential biomarkers of brain injury recognizing that the majority of individuals who sustain an mTBI recover without neuroimaging signs or neuropsychological sequelae detected with methods currently applied. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides several measures that could serve as mTBI biomarkers including the detection of hemosiderin and white matter abnormalities, assessment of white matter integrity derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and quantitative measures that directly assess neuroanatomy. Improved prediction of neuropsychological outcomes in mTBI may be achieved with the use of targeted neuroimaging markers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / diagnosis*
  • Brain Injuries / pathology
  • Brain Injuries / psychology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Resilience, Psychological

Substances

  • Biomarkers