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Traumatic Brain Injury

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are 1.4 million annual cases of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the U.S, with most resulting from motor vehicle accidents, falls, assaults and sport or recreational incidences.  Contrary to popular misconception, the skull does not need to be penetrated in order for the brain to be injured. Rather, a traumatic brain injury can occur in a variety of ways:  

• A direct force against a specific area of the head and brain
• Acceleration/deceleration forces, such as whiplash
• A coup/contra-coup event in which the impact to one area of the head results in injury to an opposing area of the brain
• A diffuse type of injury as might occur from an explosion

Depending on the severity of a TBI, individuals can have critical symptoms such as loss of consciousness, amnesia, and seizures. However, in many cases the symptoms are less severe but may include headaches, memory loss, fatigue, slowed thinking, impulsive behavior, moodiness, anxiety, sleep problems or impaired judgment.  Furthermore, symptoms do not always appear immediately, but may emerge days, weeks or months after an incident.

Regardless of the time of onset, the persistence of TBI symptoms can cause significant disruptions in family life, career, health and overall functioning.  This is especially true when the symptoms are mistakenly presumed to be from a psychiatric disorder, rather than a previously unidentified TBI.  The symptoms of a TBI can mimic many different disorders, but will not respond to the subsequent treatments that result from the mistaken diagnosis.  It is imperative to identify the existence of a TBI so that it can be objectively differentiated from any potential psychiatric disorders.

CereScan’s brain SPECT imaging is a valuable diagnostic tool for patients suffering from a host of brain injuries, whether caused by trauma, sports-related concussions, toxins (such as carbon monoxide, pollution, drugs and alcohol) or stroke.  SPECT imaging shows areas of decreased blood flow, which can reflect damage to the brain. As a result, SPECT scans can show functional deficits in brain activity due to injuries much better than MRI or CT scans.

By utilizing CereScan's brain SPECT imaging, it is possible to:

• Positively identify or rule out the presence of a TBI
• Measure treatment progress and effectiveness over time
• Quantify the patient's long-term prognosis 

No matter what your brain based concerns are, our staff and physicians are dedicated to help you feel better. If you have questions, would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, please call us at 866-722-4806 or complete our contact us form.