Clinical value of magnetic susceptibility-weighted imaging in the application of mild traumatic brain injury

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in the application of mild traumatic brain injury. Methods The clinical data of 78 patients with mild traumatic brain injury were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received SWI and conventional MRI examination (T1WI, T2WI and FLAIR), and the number of intracerebral hemorrhagic lesions was compared between SWI and conventional MRI. Results The number of intracerebral hemorrhagic lesions of SWI examination was significantly much than that of conventional MRI examination: 39.74% (31/78) vs. 21.79% (17/78), and there was statistical difference (χ2= 5.898, P= 0.015). SWI depicted 156 hemorrhagic lesions, and conventional MRI (T1WI, T2WI and FLAIR) depicted 16, 26 and 37 hemorrhagic lesions. SWI depicted a significantly higher number of hemorrhagic lesions than conventional MRI, and there was statistical difference (Z=- 4.563,- 4.476 and- 4.478; P<0.01). The Glasgow coma score on admission in patients with hemorrhagic lesions of SWI examination was significantly lower than that in patients without hemorrhagic lesions of SWI examination: (14.23 ± 0.80) scores vs. (14.84 ± 0.48) scores,and there was statistical difference (Z=- 3.956, P<0.01). The number of intracerebral hemorrhagic lesions in SWI examination was negative correlation with Glasgow coma score on admission (rs=- 0.471, P= 0.008). Conclusions SWI has higher sensitivity in detecting intracerebral hemorrhages compared with conventional MRI. It can objectively and accurately evaluate the severity of patients with mild traumatic brain injury. Key words: Craniocerebral trauma; Magnetic resonance imaging; Susceptibility-weighted imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging