RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping after Sports-Related Concussion
JF American Journal of Neuroradiology
JO Am. J. Neuroradiol.
FD American Society of Neuroradiology
DO 10.3174/ajnr.A5692
A1 K.M. Koch
A1 T.B. Meier
A1 R. Karr
A1 A.S. Nencka
A1 L.T. Muftuler
A1 M. McCrea
YR 2018
UL http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2018/06/07/ajnr.A5692.abstract
AB BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quantitative susceptibility mapping using MR imaging can assess changes in brain tissue structure and composition. This report presents preliminary results demonstrating changes in tissue magnetic susceptibility after sports-related concussion.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Longitudinal quantitative susceptibility mapping metrics were produced from imaging data acquired from cohorts of concussed and control football athletes. One hundred thirty-six quantitative susceptibility mapping datasets were analyzed across 3 separate visits (24 hours after injury, 8 days postinjury, and 6 months postinjury). Longitudinal quantitative susceptibility mapping group analyses were performed on stability-thresholded brain tissue compartments and selected subregions. Clinical concussion metrics were also measured longitudinally in both cohorts and compared with the measured quantitative susceptibility mapping.RESULTS: Statistically significant increases in white matter susceptibility were identified in the concussed athlete group during the acute (24 hour) and subacute (day 8) period. These effects were most prominent at the 8-day visit but recovered and showed no significant difference from controls at the 6-month visit. The subcortical gray matter showed no statistically significant group differences. Observed susceptibility changes after concussion appeared to outlast self-reported clinical recovery metrics at a group level. At an individual subject level, susceptibility increases within the white matter showed statistically significant correlations with return-to-play durations.CONCLUSIONS: The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that sports-related concussion can induce physiologic changes to brain tissue that can be detected using MR imaging–based magnetic susceptibility estimates. In group analyses, the observed tissue changes appear to persist beyond those detected on clinical outcome assessments and were associated with return-to-play duration after sports-related concussion.CVcoefficient of variationMNIMontreal Neurological InstitutemTBImild traumatic brain injuryQSMquantitative susceptibility mappingRTPreturn to playSACStandardized Assessment of ConcussionSCAT-3Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, 3rd edSRCsports-related concussion