Cohen Veterans Bioscience and the American College of Radiology (ACR) is launching the first imaging library for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Clinical imaging tools will be developed to aid in the diagnosis and management of patients with TBI.
In a press release published on the Cohen Veterans Bioscience website, 1.5 million Americans are affected by mild TBI annually. Despite the fact that most mild TBI’s display no outward signs of brain damage, these injuries lead to long-term cognitive, behavioral or physical issues in as much as 20 percent of cases. Neuroimaging, the method currently used by many hospitals is of little help in diagnosing TBI.
According to the press release, “patients with this condition often have normal routine brain scans. However advanced types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are showing promise in demonstrating changes that are known to occur in mild TBI. These advanced imaging approaches include diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional connectivity, perfusion weighted imaging and volumetric imaging. Despite their promise, these advanced approaches are currently primarily confined to research use.”
A reference in neurological imaging would help doctors to make a comparison between patients different diagnosis. This valuable source has been missing until now. With the new system, advanced neurological scans on 3000 adult volunteers will be performed and then used to create a library. This work will be performed at four separate sites – Lackland Air Force Base, the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, and the University of Virginia Health System. Standards developed by the project will also be made available to the research community to enable future efforts in the study of individuals with TBI.
“Injuries to the brain can be so subtle and easily missed. Not only because they may not be seen on an MRI, but also because clinicians can only rely on patient-reported symptoms. Patients may feel fine yet have a potentially life-altering condition,” according to Magali Haas, MD, PhD, CEO & President of Cohen Veterans Bioscience. “With this new reference library we can create a diagnostic standard by which all individuals who suffer from a TBI can be assessed and receive immediate treatment.
“We are committed to maximizing the learning opportunity from every single patient,” says Alexander Norbash MD, MS, FACR, ACR Head Institute Injury Chair. “This approach is a giant step forward where medicine and imaging are concerned. Cohen Veterans Bioscience has made this possible and it is a transformative opportunity.”
Vititoe Law Group is a personal injury law firm helping victims of traumatic head injury. If you or a loved one suffered a head injury, call 818-851-1886 today, for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation.
