Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is responsible for 90% of traumatic brain injuries and necessitates computed tomography (CT) imaging to detect intracranial lesions. Many mTBI patients recover fully, some develop adverse outcomes, and the prognostic value of pathological CT findings in this population is uncertain. This review aimed to systematically review and identify pathological CT features associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with mTBI. A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was performed to identify relevant studies published between the years 2017 and 2025. Eligible studies included observational designs that assessed patients with mTBI (Glasgow Coma Scale 13-15) and reported CT findings correlated with clinical outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were performed by two reviewers. A total of 11 studies were included. The most commonly reported CT findings include contusions, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma, epidural hematoma, and skull fractures. Temporal and frontal contusions were associated with poor functional outcomes. Some studies reported low benefits from repeated CT in stable patients. In high-risk groups, radiological progression rarely influenced management. Pathological CT findings in mTBI, mainly contusions and hemorrhagic lesions, are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes.

Key words: Mild traumatic brain injury, computed tomography, radiological predictors, functional outcome, review