Diffusion tensor imaging measures water diffusion along nerve fiber tracts, producing measures of white matter integrity. It is offered in litigation to demonstrate diffuse axonal injury where conventional MRI is normal.
Interpretation depends on comparison against normative data.
Alternative Names:
Diffusion Tensor Imaging, DTI
Why it Matters?
DTI is the imaging technique most often offered in mild traumatic brain injury cases precisely because standard imaging is normal, which makes admissibility the threshold issue. Defense challenges focus on the absence of individual diagnostic validation, variability between scanners and protocols, and the fact that white matter differences appear in populations without injury. Courts have reached inconsistent results.
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Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Why is DTI offered in mild brain injury cases?
What are the challenges to admissibility?
