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Abstract #1025

Longitudinal Changes in Surface-Based Morphometry of U.S. Military Personnel Following Mild Blast-Related Traumatic Brain Injury: A Preliminary Study

Kihwan Han1, Christine L. Mac Donald1, David L. Brody1

1Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States

A longitudinal, morphological study on U.S. military personnel following concussive blast-related TBI was performed to identify subtle structural changes of these patients over time. 27 active duty U.S. military personnel (18 controls and 9 concussive TBI patients) with blast exposures were analyzed. The initial scans were acquired within 1-90 days after the blast exposures, and the follow-up scans after 6-12 months from the initial scans. Greater longitudinal changes in cortical thickness, metric distortion and pial surface of the TBI patients relative to the controls were observed. Further studies with more subjects are required to validate these findings.

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Keywords

abnormalities absence active additional affect analyzed anterior biological blast blasts brain cerebral challenges challenging chance clear cohorts concussive confirm consequences controls convexity coordinate correction cortex cortical created cross curvature dale dataset days defense diagnosed distortion distributions duty estimation exposed exposure exposures findings five flattening funding grants greater heterogeneity human identify independent indicate inflation initial injuries injury longitudinal made maps matrix measure measures measuring mechanisms metric middle mild military months morphological morphology natl needed neurology normality occur occurring overcome pass patients percentage personnel phenomena pipeline plots power preliminary reconstructed reconstruction registered related reliability required resolution respect scanner scatter sectional segmentation signature significance slices statistical statistically structural studies subject subjects subsequently subtle suite surface surfaces survive system template thick traumatic unbiased uncomplicated underlying validate vertex