Magnetization Transfer Imaging in the Detection of Injury Associated with Mild Head Trauma
Joseph C. McGowan
,a,
Jennifer H. Yanga,
Rosette C. Plotkina,
Robert I. Grossmana,
Eric M. Umilea,
Kim M. Cecila and
Linda J. Bagleya
a From the Departments of Radiology (J.C.McG., J.H.Y., R.I.G., K.M.C., L.J.B.) and Rehabilitation Medicine (R.C.P., E.M.U.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
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FIG 1. A–D, MR images in a patient with mild head trauma. Proton density–weighted (A) and T2-weighted (B) axial images at the level of the splenium and T2-weighted image at the level of the pons (C) show hyperintensity attributed to partial volume effect from the petrous bone. D is a gradient-echo image
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FIG 2. MT image of an axial section at the level of the splenium, with superimposed box to indicate the region of detailed analysis by contour plotting, as exemplified in figure 3
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FIG 3. A, Detail of an MT-weighted image overlaid with contours corresponding to 2 SD below normal white matter MTR. The image in the axial plane shows the region of the splenium in a healthy volunteer.
B, MT contour map of a patient with TBI shows a region of MTR lowered in excess of 2 SD below normal (arrow). This patient had a pattern of cognitive weakness and impairments consistent with TBI, including fluctuating auditory attention and impaired sustained attention and visual concentration.
C, MT contour map of a different patient with TBI shows multiple regions (arrows) of abnormality. This patient had impairments consistent with TBI, including deficits in executive function and delayed short-term memory.
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