Diagnosis of Concussion: The Role of Imaging Now and in the Future

The primary role of neuroimaging in the clinical context of sports-related concussion is the exclusion of a more severe, unsuspected intracranial injury. Computed tomography remains the test of choice for this purpose. Magnetic resonance imaging is more commonly used as a secondary test for the investigation of persistent symptoms. New imaging techniques are currently being developed to detect the molecular and cellular changes underlying concussion that are invisible with standard structural imaging. In the future, these techniques may be used as tools for directing rehabilitation after concussion and aiding in the decision of when it is safe for an athlete to return to play.