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Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Traumatic Brain Injury

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Book cover Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a dynamic process, and pathology evolves over time. Despite its frequent occurrence with significant personal and socioeconomic impact, our understanding of TBI is still limited. In the acute phase of TBI, CT scanning is of great value because it permits fast detection of lesions that may require urgent surgical treatment. However, it only captures limited information on the full extent of structural damage and does not provide any insight into function.

Specific MRI sequences, i.e., susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and diffusion weighted imaging (DWI), are more sensitive for detecting structural changes in the brain, particularly smaller lesions, such as microhemorrhages, and traumatic or diffuse axonal injury (TAI/DAI). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can provide valuable additional information about both white matter lesions and structural damage, which can be used for better characterization and to establish more accurate prognosis.

This chapter will elaborate on the role of diffusion tensor imaging in traumatic brain injury for research and clinical practice.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium

    Süleyman Sener MD & Andrew I. R. Maas

  2. Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital and University of Antwerp, Edegem, Antwerp, Belgium

    Paul M. Parizel MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Süleyman Sener MD
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  2. Paul M. Parizel MD, PhD
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  3. Andrew I. R. Maas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Süleyman Sener MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. icometrix; Department of Radiology, Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital, Leuven, Antwerpen, Belgium

    Wim Van Hecke

  2. Departments of Translational MRI and Radiology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Louise Emsell

  3. Departments of Translational MRI and Radiology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Stefan Sunaert

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Sener, S., Parizel, P.M., Maas, A.I.R. (2016). Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Traumatic Brain Injury. In: Van Hecke, W., Emsell, L., Sunaert, S. (eds) Diffusion Tensor Imaging. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3118-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3118-7_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-3117-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-3118-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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