Detection of white matter lesions in the acute stage of diffuse axonal injury predicts long-term cognitive impairments: a clinical diffusion tensor imaging study.

Background: White matter disruption is known to contribute to neurocognitive deficits after diffuse axonal injury (DAI). This study evaluated the relationship between white matter integrity using diffusion tensor imaging in the early stage and cognitions in the chronic stage.

Methods: Diffusion tensor imaging was performed in 15 patients with DAI within 7 days of injury and in 15 patients in the control group.