Review Article
Neuroimaging of structural pathology and connectomics in traumatic brain injury: Toward personalized outcome prediction

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2012.08.002Get rights and content
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Abstract

Recent contributions to the body of knowledge on traumatic brain injury (TBI) favor the view that multimodal neuroimaging using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI and fMRI, respectively) as well as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has excellent potential to identify novel biomarkers and predictors of TBI outcome. This is particularly the case when such methods are appropriately combined with volumetric/morphometric analysis of brain structures and with the exploration of TBI-related changes in brain network properties at the level of the connectome. In this context, our present review summarizes recent developments on the roles of these two techniques in the search for novel structural neuroimaging biomarkers that have TBI outcome prognostication value. The themes being explored cover notable trends in this area of research, including (1) the role of advanced MRI processing methods in the analysis of structural pathology, (2) the use of brain connectomics and network analysis to identify outcome biomarkers, and (3) the application of multivariate statistics to predict outcome using neuroimaging metrics. The goal of the review is to draw the community's attention to these recent advances on TBI outcome prediction methods and to encourage the development of new methodologies whereby structural neuroimaging can be used to identify biomarkers of TBI outcome.

Highlights

► MRI/DTI processing methods are becoming increasingly prominent in TBI research. ► Brain connectomics and network analysis may offer useful biomarkers of TBI outcome. ► Multivariate statistics offers useful ways to identify biomarkers of TBI evolution.

Abbreviations

AAL
Automatic Anatomical Labeling
ADC
apparent diffusion coefficient
ANTS
Advanced Normalization ToolS
BOLD
blood oxygen level dependent
CC
corpus callosum
CT
computed tomography
DAI
diffuse axonal injury
DSI
diffusion spectrum imaging
DTI
diffusion tensor imaging
DWI
diffusion weighted imaging
FA
fractional anisotropy
FLAIR
Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery
fMRI
functional magnetic resonance imaging
FSE
Functional Status Examination
GCS
Glasgow Coma Score
GOS
Glasgow Outcome Score
GM
gray matter
GRE
Gradient Recalled Echo
HARDI
high-angular-resolution diffusion imaging
IBA
Individual Brain Atlas
LDA
linear discriminant analysis
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging
NINDS
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
PCA
principal component analysis
PROMO
PROspective MOtion Correction
SPM
Statistical Parametric Mapping
SWI
Susceptibility Weighted Imaging
TBI
traumatic brain injury
TBSS
tract-based spatial statistics
WM
white matter
3D
three-dimensional

Keywords

Trauma
Neuroimaging
MRI/fMRI
Diffusion tensor
Outcome measures

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