Abstract
Purpose: To determine whether frontal white matter diffusion abnormalities can help predict acute executive function impairment after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Materials and Methods: This study had institutional review board approval, included written informed consent, and complied with HIPAA. Diffusion-tensor imaging and standardized neuropsychologic assessments were performed in 20 patients with mTBI within 2 weeks of injury and 20 matched control subjects. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) images (imaging parameters: 3.0 T, 25 directions, b = 1000 sec/mm2) were compared by using whole-brain voxelwise analysis. Spearman correlation analyses were performed to evaluate associations between diffusion measures and executive function. Results: Multiple clusters of lower frontal white matter FA, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), were present in patients (P < .005), with several clusters also demonstrating higher MD (P < .005). Patients performed worse on tests of executive function. Lower DLPFC FA was significantly correlated with worse executive function performance in patients (P < .05). Conclusion: Impaired executive function following mTBI is associated with axonal injury involving the DLPFC.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 816-824 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | RADIOLOGY |
Volume | 252 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging