Abstract #1026

Temporal Changes of Cerebral Blood Perfusion and Diffusion Kurtosis Parameters in the Thalamus Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Teodora Stoica¹, Jiachen Zhuo¹, Steven Roys¹, Chandler Sours¹,², Kathirkama Shanmuganathan³, Rao P. Gullapalli¹,²

¹Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University Of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; ²Program of Neuroscience, University Of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; ³Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University Of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States

The aim of this study is to investigate regional CBF changes (measured by pASL) at three time points up to six months following mild TBI, and their relationship to tissue microstructure changes measured by DKI and patients cognitive functioning. 18 mTBI patients and 34 control individuals were included. Significant temporal CBF changes in the thalamus were observed that corresponded with FA changes indicating that disrupted tissue microstructure may be responsible for the increased perfusion. The findings validate arterial spin labeling and diffusion kurtosis imaging as a viable diagnostic method and reliable marker for the therapeutic management of mTBI patients.