Jennifer Ann Vaughn MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Yongxia Zhou PhD, MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yulin Ge MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Robert I. Grossman MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

James S. Babb PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Joesph Reaume, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Damon Kenul, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yvonne W. Lui MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To document longitudinal changes in brain iron using quantitative measures of magnetic field correlation (MFC) in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) compared to a control cohort and to correlate changes in MFC to neuropsychiatric measures.

24 patients with MTBI were prospectively enrolled and 12 matched healthy subjects served as controls. The patient cohort underwent MRI and neuropsychological evaluation at two time points (within 2 months of injury and again at 1 year follow-up). 3 Tesla MRI was done including MFC. Parametric maps were calculated and MFC was measured in several deep gray matter areas as well as in the frontal white matter using region of interest (ROI) technique performed by a blinded observer. Component analysis of MFC was done. Total, microscopic and macroscopic MFC values were compared across groups at initial and follow-up visits and change in MFC was correlated with changes in clinical symptomatology and neuropsychiatric measures.

Compared with controls, patients with MTBI demonstrated higher total and microscopic MFC in the thalamus at both initial and follow-up visits (p=.02). There was also a trend toward elevation of total and microscopic MFC in the frontal white matter in subjects at the time of the initial visit which was significant (p=.02) at time of follow-up. There was also a trend in increase in total MFC in frontal white matter in subjects between visits (p=.093).  In patients with MTBI, overall MFC values in the thalamus at the follow-up visits correlated significantly with anxiety, fatigue and post-concussive syndrome (P<0.05).

There are prolonged changes in brain iron distribution at 1 year follow-up in patients after MTBI in the thalamus. There appear to be dynamic changes in the frontal white matter which may show increasing iron deposition in these regions over time. 

The current study documents chronic changes in brain iron and supports the notion that both deep gray and frontal white matter are sites of iron accumulation and possible related injury in MTBI.

Vaughn, J, Zhou, Y, Ge, Y, Grossman, R, Babb, J, Reaume, J, Kenul, D, Lui, Y, Longitudinal Study of Regional Brain Iron in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Using Magnetic Field Correlation Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12024820.html