How does chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) manifest on an MRI?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) manifests on an MRI primarily by showing smaller ridges and deeper grooves in the brain. This is an indication of atrophy, particularly in regions such as the frontal and temporal lobes, which is often seen in individuals who have suffered multiple concussive or sub-concussive head injuries over time.

In CTE, the brain tissue becomes progressively damaged, leading to a loss of neurons and a change in the overall structure of the brain. This atrophy can result in the sulci (the grooves) appearing deeper and the gyri (the ridges) appearing thinner. Such changes are significant as they help in differentiating CTE from other forms of brain injury or normal aging processes.

The other options present descriptions that do not accurately reflect the characteristics commonly observed in CTE. For instance, describing the brain as having a normal structure with regular size grooves does not account for the degenerative changes associated with CTE. Thickened white lines and fewer grooves suggest an opposite condition of augmentation in brain tissue rather than loss, while highly vascularized brain tissues does not correspond with the typical pathological findings of CTE, which involve neurodegeneration rather than increased vascularity within the affected areas.