Measurement of Deep Gray Matter Perfusion in Acute Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using Segmented True-FISP ASL

Elan J. Grossman¹, Yulin Ge¹, Matilde Inglese¹, Ke Zhang¹, Jing An², Ding Xia¹, Jian Xu³, Niels Oesingmann³, Kelly A. Mcgorty¹, Joseph Reaume¹, Robert I. Grossman¹, Qun Chen¹

Conventional imaging fails to reveal evidence of damage in mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) that accounts for its disabling impairments. The purpose of the current study is to examine if perfusion changes in thalamus and basal ganglia can be a possible indicator of pathology in acute MTBI. We have employed segmented True-FISP ASL, which we recently developed to measure perfusion in deep gray matter at high spatial resolution. Results indicate there are significant differences between patients and controls in thalamus and caudate. This suggests these regions may exhibit hypoperfusion in acute MTBI and could be biomarkers of persistent post-concussive syndrome.