Progressive brain atrophy in patients with chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury: A preliminary study

Abstract

Introduction: NeuroQuant® is a recently developed, FDA-approved software program for measuring brain MRI volume in clinical settings. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to examine the test-retest reliability of NeuroQuant®; (2) to test the hypothesis that patients with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) would have abnormally rapid progressive brain atrophy; and (3) to test the hypothesis that progressive brain atrophy in patients with mild TBI would be associated with vocational outcome.

Methods: Sixteen patients with mild TBI were compared to 20 normal controls. Vocational outcome was assessed with the Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended (GOSE) and Disability Rating Scale (DRS).

Results: NeuroQuant® showed high test–re-test reliability. Patients had abnormally rapid progressive atrophy in several brain regions and the rate of atrophy was associated with inability to return to work.

Conclusions: NeuroQuant®, is a reliable and valid method for assessing the anatomic effects of TBI. Progression of atrophy may continue for years after injury, even in patients with mild TBI.

• Traumatic brain injury
• magnetic resonance imaging
• volumetry
• cortical atrophy
• longitudinal study
• medicolegal
• vocational outcome
• NeuroQuant®