Skip to main content
Advertisement

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Publication Preview--Ahead of Print
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
  • For Authors
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editors
    • American Society of Neuroradiology
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe on iTunes
    • Subscribe on Stitcher
  • More
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Advertisers
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
  • Other Publications
    • ajnr

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
American Journal of Neuroradiology
American Journal of Neuroradiology

American Journal of Neuroradiology

  • Subscribe
  • Alerts
  • Log in

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Publication Preview--Ahead of Print
    • Past Issue Archive
    • Case of the Week Archive
    • Classic Case Archive
    • Case of the Month Archive
  • For Authors
  • About Us
    • About AJNR
    • Editors
    • American Society of Neuroradiology
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe on iTunes
    • Subscribe on Stitcher
  • More
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
    • Advertisers
    • Alerts
    • Feedback
  • Follow AJNR on Twitter
  • Visit AJNR on Facebook
  • Follow AJNR on Instagram
  • Join AJNR on LinkedIn
  • RSS Feeds
Research ArticleBRAIN

Increased Diffusion in the Brain of Professional Boxers: A Preclinical Sign of Traumatic Brain Injury?

Lijuan Zhang, Lisa D. Ravdin, Norman Relkin, Robert D. Zimmerman, Barry Jordan, William E. Lathan and Aziz M. Uluğ
American Journal of Neuroradiology January 2003, 24 (1) 52-57;
Lijuan Zhang
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Lisa D. Ravdin
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Norman Relkin
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Robert D. Zimmerman
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Barry Jordan
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
William E. Lathan
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Aziz M. Uluğ
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Professional boxing is associated with chronic, repetitive head blows that may cause brain injuries. Diffusion-weighted imaging is sensitive to microscopic changes and may be a useful tool to quantify the microstructural integrity of the brain. In this study, we sought to quantify microscopic alterations associated with chronic traumatic brain injury in professional boxers.

METHODS: MR and diffusion-weighted imaging were performed in 24 boxers and in 14 age- and sex-matched control subjects with no history of head trauma. Using distribution analysis, the average diffusion constant of the entire brain (BDav) and diffusion distribution width (σ) were calculated for each subject; findings in professional boxers were compared with those of control subjects. In the boxer group, correlations between diffusion changes and boxing history and diffusion changes and MR imaging findings were assessed.

RESULTS: The measured diffusion values in the boxer group were significantly higher than those measured in the control group (BDav, P < .0001; σ, P < .01). In the boxer group, a robust correlation was found between increased BDav and frequency of hospitalization for boxing injuries (r = 0.654, P < .05). The most common MR finding in the boxer group was volume loss inappropriate to age followed by cavum septum pellucidum, subcortical white matter disease, and periventricular white matter disease.

CONCLUSION: Boxers had higher diffusion constants than those in control subjects. Our data suggest that microstructural damage of the brain associated with chronic traumatic brain injury may elevate whole-brain diffusion. This global elevation can exist even when routine MR findings are normal.

  • Copyright © American Society of Neuroradiology
View Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

American Journal of Neuroradiology: 24 (1)
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Vol. 24, Issue 1
1 Jan 2003
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Advertisement
Print
Download PDF
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Journal of Neuroradiology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Increased Diffusion in the Brain of Professional Boxers: A Preclinical Sign of Traumatic Brain Injury?
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Journal of Neuroradiology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Journal of Neuroradiology web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Increased Diffusion in the Brain of Professional Boxers: A Preclinical Sign of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Lijuan Zhang, Lisa D. Ravdin, Norman Relkin, Robert D. Zimmerman, Barry Jordan, William E. Lathan, Aziz M. Uluğ
American Journal of Neuroradiology Jan 2003, 24 (1) 52-57;

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Increased Diffusion in the Brain of Professional Boxers: A Preclinical Sign of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Lijuan Zhang, Lisa D. Ravdin, Norman Relkin, Robert D. Zimmerman, Barry Jordan, William E. Lathan, Aziz M. Uluğ
American Journal of Neuroradiology Jan 2003, 24 (1) 52-57;
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Conclusion
    • Acknowledgments
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • PubMed
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Diffusion Measures Indicate Fight Exposure-Related Damage to Cerebral White Matter in Boxers and Mixed Martial Arts Fighters
  • Cerebral Microhemorrhages Detected by Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging in Amateur Boxers
  • Clinics in neurology and neurosurgery-extradural and subdural haematoma
  • Prevalence of Cerebral Microhemorrhages in Amateur Boxers as Detected by 3T MR Imaging
  • Diffusion Anisotropy Changes in the Brains of Professional Boxers
  • No cumulative effects for one or two previous concussions
  • A review of structural magnetic resonance neuroimaging
  • Whole-Brain Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Traumatic Brain Injury: Correlation with Glasgow Coma Scale Score
  • Crossref
  • Google Scholar

This article has not yet been cited by articles in journals that are participating in Crossref Cited-by Linking.

More in this TOC Section

  • Usefulness of Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping for the Diagnosis of Parkinson Disease
  • White Matter Alterations in the Brains of Patients with Active, Remitted, and Cured Cushing Syndrome: A DTI Study
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of MR Imaging Findings in Patients with Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke Implanted with Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Show more BRAIN

Similar Articles

Advertisement

News and Updates

  • Lucien Levy Best Research Article Award
  • Thanks to our 2020 Distinguished Reviewers
  • Press Releases

Resources

  • Evidence-Based Medicine Level Guide
  • How to Participate in a Tweet Chat
  • AJNR Podcast Archive
  • Ideas for Publicizing Your Research
  • Librarian Resources
  • Terms and Conditions

Opportunities

  • Share Your Art in Perspectives
  • Get Peer Review Credit from Publons
  • Moderate a Tweet Chat

American Society of Neuroradiology

  • Neurographics
  • ASNR Annual Meeting
  • Fellowship Portal
  • Position Statements

© 2021 by the American Society of Neuroradiology | Print ISSN: 0195-6108 Online ISSN: 1936-959X

Powered by HighWire