The Role of Imaging in the Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Brain Injuries: (Review Artical)

Abstract
Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in both civilian and military populations. Routine neuroimaging has limitations in detecting subtle brain parenchymal changes, predicting prognosis, and assessing cerebral perfusion, metabolite levels, and mechanical properties after TBI. Advanced neuroimaging techniques have emerged as promising tools for the diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of TBI. Aim of Study: This review aims to summarize the role of advanced neuroimaging techniques in the evaluation and man-agement of TBI. The focus is on ultrasound (US)-based tech-niques, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based techniques, and molecular imaging-based techniques, including positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission com-puted tomography (SPECT). Methods: The review involves a comprehensive analysis of existing research on advanced neuroimaging techniques for TBI. The included techniques are contrast-enhanced US, intravascular US, US elastography, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, perfusion-weighted imag-ing, magnetic resonance elastography, functional MRI, PET, and SPECT. Results: Advanced neuroimaging techniques, such as US-based, MRI-based, and molecular imaging-based techniques, have shown potential in the evaluation and management of TBI. These techniques provide improved visualization of subtle brain parenchymal changes, allow for the assessment of cere-bral perfusion, metabolites, and mechanical properties, and of-fer prognostic information. However, further clinical validation and larger studies are needed to establish their routine clinical use. Conclusion: Advanced neuroimaging techniques offer val-uable insights into TBI by overcoming the limitations of rou-tine neuroimaging. US-based, MRI-based, and molecular im-aging-based techniques provide additional information for the diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of TBI. Continued research and validation are necessary to enhance the clinical utility of these techniques.