ABSTRACT
Although there are numerous ways that a sports-related brain injury can occur, the majority of these injuries are relatively mild (Benson et al., 1999; Collins, Lovell & McKeag, 1999; Kelly & Rosenberg 1997; McCrea et al., 1997). Therefore, the important neuroimaging characteristics, when such abnormalities are present, are those typically observed in the “mild” type of injury (Alexander, 1995; Stuss, 1995; Weight, 1998). Since most research on neuroimaging of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been performed on cases of injury from motor vehicle accidents (MVA), much of the information available for review incorporates literature from MVA related mild TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] > 13; Bigler 1999a, b, c). Understanding the nature and clinical significance of neuroimaging findings in TBI is important in rehabilitation (Consensus Panel, 1999) and long-term outcome (Colantonio, Dawson & McLellan, 1998). Therefore, it is important to provide objective guidelines for the interpretation of neuroimaging findings in the context of assessing and treating mild TBI (Bigler, 1999b, 2001b).
