Diffusion tensor imaging reliably detects experimental traumatic axonal injury and indicates approximate time of injury.

摘要: Traumatic axonal injury (TAI) may contribute greatly to neurological impairments after traumatic brain injury, but it is difficult assess with conventional imaging. We quantitatively compared diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) signal abnormalities histological and electron microscopic characteristics of pericontusional TAI in a mouse model. Two DTI parameters, relative anisotropy axial diffusivity, were significantly reduced 6 h 4 d trauma, corresponding relatively isolated injury. One weeks remained decreased, whereas diffusivity "pseudo-normalized" radial increased. These changes corresponded demyelination, edema, persistent At every time point, was more sensitive than magnetic resonance imaging, distinguished injured from control mice no overlap between groups. Remarkably, strongly predicted the approximate since trauma. results provide an important validation for suggest novel clinical forensic applications.