Diffusion tensor tractography of traumatic diffuse axonal injury.

Background: Diffuse axonal injury is a common consequence of traumatic brain injury that frequently involves the parasagittal white matter, corpus callosum, and brainstem.

Objective: To examine the potential of diffusion tensor tractography in detecting diffuse axonal injury at the acute stage of injury and predicting long-term functional outcome.

Design: Tract-derived fiber variables were analyzed to distinguish patients from control subjects and to determine their relationship to outcome.