A case of frontal neuropsychological and neuroimaging signs following multiple primary-blast exposure

Neurocase. 2012 Jun;18(3):258-69. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2011.588181. Epub 2011 Sep 1.

Abstract

Blast-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the Afghanistan and Iraq wars represents a significant medical concern for troops and veterans. To better understand the consequences of primary-blast injury in humans, we present a case of a Marine exposed to multiple primary blasts during his 14-year military career. The neuropsychological profile of this formerly high-functioning veteran suggested primarily executive dysfunction. Diffusion-tensor imaging revealed white-matter pathology in long fiber tracks compared with a composite fractional-anisotropy template derived from a veteran reference control group without TBI. This study supports the existence of primary blast-induced neurotrauma in humans and introduces a neuroimaging technique with potential to discriminate multiple-blast TBI.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anisotropy
  • Blast Injuries / complications
  • Brain Injuries / complications*
  • Brain Injuries / etiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology*
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging
  • Female
  • Frontal Lobe / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests