Teodora Stoica1,
Jiachen Zhuo1, Steven Roys1, Chandler Sours1,
2, Kathirkama Shanmuganathan3, Rao P. Gullapalli1,
2
1Magnetic
Resonance Research Center, Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine,
University Of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; 2Program
of Neuroscience, University Of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,
United States; 3Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine,
University Of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
The aim of this study is to investigate regional CBF changes (measured by pASL) at three time points up to six months following mild TBI, and their relationship to tissue microstructure changes measured by DKI and patients cognitive functioning. 18 mTBI patients and 34 control individuals were included. Significant temporal CBF changes in the thalamus were observed that corresponded with FA changes indicating that disrupted tissue microstructure may be responsible for the increased perfusion. The findings validate arterial spin labeling and diffusion kurtosis imaging as a viable diagnostic method and reliable marker for the therapeutic management of mTBI patients.