Brain core temperature of patients with mild traumatic brain injury as assessed by DWI-thermometry

Introduction The aim of this study was to assess the brain core temperature of patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using a noninvasive temperature measurement technique based on the diffusion coefficient of the cerebrospinal fluid. Methods This retrospective study used the data collected from April 2008 to June 2011. The patient group comprised 20 patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 14 or 15 who underwent magnetic resonance imaging within 30 days after head trauma. The normal control group comprised 14 subjects who volunteered for a brain checkup (known in Japan as "brain dock"). We compared lateral ventricular (LV) temperature between patient and control groups. Follow-up studies were performed for four patients. Results LV temperature measurements were successfully performed for both patients and controls. Mean (+/- standard deviation) measured LV temperature was 36.9+/-1.5 degrees C in patients, 38.7+/- 1.8 degrees C in follow-ups, and 37.9+/- 1.2 degrees C in controls, showing a significant difference between patients and controls (P=0.017). However, no significant difference was evident between patients and follow-ups (P=0.595) or between follow- ups and controls (P=0.465). Conclusions A reduction in brain core temperature was observed in patients with mTBI, possibly due to a global decrease in metabolism.