Using double pulsed-field gradient MRI to study tissue microstructure in traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Double pulsed-field gradient (dPFG) MRI is proposed as a new sensitive tool to detect and characterize tissue microstructure following diffuse axonal injury. In this study dPFG MRI was used to estimate apparent mean axon diameter in a diffuse axonal injury animal model and in healthy fixed mouse brain. Histological analysis was used to verify the presence of the injury detected by MRI. [Display omitted] •A double-pulsed field gradient (dPFG) MRI sequence was proposed to detect diffuse axonal injury.•Apparent mean axon diameters were estimated using dPFG MRI in injured and healthy fixed mouse brain tissue.•Significantly different mean diameters were measured in injured and healthy tissues.