Computed tomography-estimated specific gravity at hospital admission predicts 6-month outcome in mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

Background: It is clear that patients with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) develop secondary, potentially lethal neurological deterioration. However, it is difficult to predict which patients with mild-to-moderate TBI (MM-TBI), even after intensive care unit (ICU) admission, will experience poor outcome at 6 months. Standard computed tomography (CT) imaging scans provide information that can be used to estimate specific gravity (eSG).

A quantitative computed tomography assessment of brain weight, volume, and specific gravity in severe head trauma.

Background: Computed tomography DICOM images analysis allows a quantitative measurement of organ weight, volume and specific gravity in humans.

Methods: The brain weight, volume and specific gravity of 15 traumatic brain-injury patients (3+/-2 days after trauma) were computed using a specially designed software (BrainView). Data were compared with those obtained from 15 healthy subjects paired for age and overall intracranial volume.