• Johan Ljungqvist, Daniel Nilsson, Maria Ljungberg, Eva Esbjörnsson, Catherine Eriksson-Ritzén, and Thomas Skoglund.
• a Department of Neurosurgery.
• Brain Inj. 2017 Jan 1; 31 (3): 344-350.

BackgroundMagnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) is used increasingly to detect diffuse axonal injury (DAI) after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Primary ObjectiveTo investigate changes in the diffusion tensor imaging parameters of the corpus callosum 6 and 12 months after TBI, to optimize the timing of follow-up DTI investigations. A secondary goal was to study the relationship between DTI parameters and outcome.Research DesignLongitudinal prospective study.Methods And ProceduresMR-DTI was performed in 15 patients with suspected DAI, 6 and 12 months post-injury. Sixteen controls were also examined. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and diffusivity (trace) in the corpus callosum were analysed. The outcome measures were the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale and the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions, assessed at 6 and 12 months.Main Outcomes And ResultsFA decreased and trace increased at 6 and 12 months compared to controls. Trace continued to increase even further between 6 and 12 months, while FA remained unchanged. Patients with the worst outcomes had lower FA and higher trace compared to patients with better outcomes.ConclusionsDTI parameters have not reached a stable level at 6 months after DAI, but continue to change, probably reflecting an incessant microstructural alteration of the white matter.

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