What does a brain with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) appear like on an MRI?

A brain with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is typically characterized by the presence of discolored regions and lesions on an MRI scan. These abnormalities are indicative of the damage incurred during the injury, such as contusions or hemorrhages. Such lesions may appear as dark or bright spots depending on the type and timing of the injury, with recent trauma often showing bright areas due to edema (swelling) or bleeding.

In cases of TBI, the MRI can reveal a range of changes that include not just the detectable lesions, but also altered brain tissue that might be affected by the mechanical forces of the injury. The discolored regions represent areas of the brain where the normal tissue structure and function have been compromised, arising from internal bleeding or swelling from the trauma.

The other choices, while potentially associated with differing brain conditions, do not accurately represent the typical findings associated with TBIs on an MRI. For instance, normal coloration without lesions would suggest the absence of injury, widened grooves and decreased ridge size might indicate different conditions like atrophy rather than acute injury, and smaller brain size overall might reflect chronic changes rather than the immediate effects of a traumatic event.