Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method. Routine MRI examinations may not demonstrate abnormaliies after trauma even though brain damage has in fact occured. When brain damage occurs, nerve fibers (axons) are affected. Axons are surrounded by water which flows (diffuses) along the axon.  If axonal damage occurs, the water does not diffuse properly. DTI demonstrates regions of abnormal diffusion, and therefore is sensitive to regions of underlying brain damage. Therefore, DTI may demonstrate regions of brain damage that routine MRI imaging cannot. If you have suffered head trauma, ask your physician if a DTI scan may be beneficial.

 What does DTI Imaging look like?

Here is an example:

The areas circled and labelled represent areas of likely change.  You can see this person is normal based on how the same locations on either side look about the same.  Complex mathematical methods verify what can often be seen by the naked eye on this image.  These methods derive a statistical determination for the amount of damage done to a person's brain during trauma or injury.  The values are compared not just against the same location on the other side but also versus controls, individuals who have not experienced significant cervical or brain trauma.