Abstract:

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common neurological disorder in clinical practice, yet its diagnosis and management remain challenging due to the hidden nature of symptoms and the underlying pathological complexity. While imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the mainstay for acute-phase assessment, they have limitations in detecting subtle injuries and evaluating long-term prognosis. In recent years, multimodal MRI technology has been developed in the research of mTBI, offering novel approaches for revealing its potential pathological mechanisms and exploring the key objective imaging indicators. Specifically, susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) is sensitive for detecting microbleeds and iron deposition in the brain; amide proton transfer (APT) imaging reflects changes in molecular and metabolic levels; diffusion and functional imaging techniques help depict abnormalities in white matter microstructure and brain networks. The integration of multimodal MRI and the construction of imaging databases will be important directions for advancing early diagnosis, precise assessment, and AI-assisted intervention. This article systematically reviews research progress of related MRI techniques, analyzes their advantages and limitations, and discusses their prospects in clinical translation.

Key words: mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI