Brain white matter diffusion tensor metrics from clinical 1.5T MRI distinguish between ALS phenotypes

Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can present with varying degrees of upper motor neuron (UMN) and lower motor neuron dysfunction. Previous diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies, in which ALS patients were not separated by the degree of UMN dysfunction, have resulted in conflicting or inconclusive results. We hypothesized that (1) categorizing ALS patients by their clinical phenotype can reveal differences in DTI abnormalities along the corticospinal tract (CST), and (2) data obtained from routine clinical DTI scans can provide this type of information. Clinical DTI scans were obtained at 1.5T in 87 ALS patients (categorized into four subgroups based on clinical phenotype) and in 12 neurologic controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity values from the CST were compared between ALS subgroups and controls. Significantly reduced FA and elevated MD values were observed in ALS patients compared to controls at the subcortical motor cortex level. Significant differences in AD values were not only seen between control and ALS patients but also between the ALS subgroups, suggesting divergent pathologies in these ALS patients. Classifying ALS patients by phenotype reveals differences in CST abnormalities between subgroups and may provide novel insights into disease mechanisms. The close similarity of our results from routine clinical scans with published research studies suggests wider accessibility to useful DTI metrics.     

Diffusion tensor imaging detects corticospinal tract involvement at multiple levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BACKGROUND: Histopathological studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are of end stage disease. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provides the opportunity to investigate indirectly corticospinal tract pathology of ALS in vivo. METHODS: DTI was used to study the water diffusion characteristics of the corticospinal tracts in 21 patients with ALS and 14 normal controls. The authors measured the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) along the pyramidal tracts from the internal capsules down to the pyramids. A mixed model regression analysis was used to compare FA and MD between the ALS and control groups. RESULTS: FA showed a downward linear trend from the cerebral peduncles to the pyramids and was lower in the ALS group than controls at multiple levels of the corticospinal tract. At the internal capsules, FA was higher on the right. MD showed an upward trend, progressing caudally from the internal capsules to the pyramids. MD was higher at the level of the internal capsule in the ALS group, but caudally this difference was not maintained. No correlations were found between clinical markers of disability and water diffusion indices. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insights into the pathological processes of ALS. Differences in diffusion characteristics at different anatomical levels may relate to underlying tract architecture or the distribution of pathological damage in ALS. Further development may permit monitoring of progression and treatment of disease.     

Spatial Profiling of the Corticospinal Tract in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used as a noninvasive method to evaluate the anatomy of the corticospinal tract (CST) and the pattern of its degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS: Fourteen patients with ALS and 15 healthy controls underwent DTI. Parameters reflecting coherence of diffusion (fractional anisotropy, FA), bulk diffusion (apparent diffusion coefficient, ADC), and directionality of diffusion (eigenvalues) parallel to (lambda( parallel)) or perpendicular to (lambda( perpendicular)) fiber tracts were measured along the intracranial course of the CST. RESULTS: FA and lambda( parallel) increased, and ADC and lambda( perpendicular) decreased progressively from the corona radiata to the cerebral peduncle in all subjects. The most abnormal finding in patients with ALS was reduced FA in the cerebral peduncle contralateral to the side of the body with the most severe upper motor neuron signs. lambda( parallel) was increased in the corona radiata. Internal capsule FA correlated positively with symptom duration, and cerebral peduncle ADC positively with the Ashworth spasticity score. CONCLUSION: There is a spatial dependency of diffusion parameters along the CST in healthy individuals. Evidence of intracranial CST degeneration in ALS was found with distinct diffusion changes in the rostral and caudal regions.     

Combined MR spectroscopic imaging and diffusion tensor MRI visualizes corticospinal tract degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract. Motor neuron damage and cortical spinal tract (CST) degeneration are pathological features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We combined whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and three-dimensional magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) to study the CST at different locations. Eight ALS patients were compared with normal controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), and the ratio of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) to creatine (Cr) were measured at various locations in the CST, including the subcortical white matter (SWM), centrum semiovale (CS), periventricular white matter (PV), posterior limb of the internal capsule (PIC) and cerebral peduncle (CP). Patients showed significantly lower FA than controls in the CST, including the SWM, CS, PV and PIC. Although there was a trend towards elevated MD in ALS patients, this did not reach statistical significance. NAA/Cr ratios were also decreased in ALS patients compared with normal controls, with significant differences in the SWM and PV but not in PIC. Combined whole-brain DTI and MRSI can detect axonal degeneration in ALS. Measurements of FA obtained in the SWM, CS, PV and PIC, and NAA/Cr ratios in the SWM and PV yield the most robust results.     

颈髓弥散张量成像在肌萎缩性侧索硬化诊断中的应用

目的 初步探讨颈髓弥散张量成像(DTI)在肌萎缩性侧索硬化(ALS)诊断中的应用价值. 方法 选择自2000年1月至2007年1月中山大学附属第二医院骨科收治的28例ALS患者为患者组,20例同期门诊查体健康成年人为对照组,对2组成员进行常规MRI扫描及DTI检查,获取颈髓MD值及FA值的直方图,并对ALS患者颈髓DTI弥散张量值与患者ALS残损功能评分量表(ALSFRS)评分进行相关性分析. 结果 与对照组相比,患者组颈髓FA值和颈髓横断面积明显降低,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);MD值轻微增加,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).患者颈髓FA值与ALSFRS评分高度相关(r=0.730,P=0.000),与MD值等指标无相关关系. 结论 ALS患者颈髓DTI显像FA值显著降低,FA值可能成为ALS诊断中的神经影像学阳性支持指标:颈髓的弥散张量值与ALSFRS结合,可以更伞面反映ALS患者的病情进展.     

High-resolution diffusion tensor imaging of the hippocampus in temporal lobe epilepsy

PURPOSE: To assess the quantitative diffusion characteristics of the hippocampus with high-resolution diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS: Thirteen controls and seven unilateral TLE patients (six with hippocampal sclerosis, one with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) were scanned with DTI using a zonally magnified oblique multislice echo planar imaging (ZOOM-EPI) acquisition. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were measured in the hippocampi. RESULTS: The mean hippocampal MD ipsilateral to the seizure focus was higher than the contralateral MD in patients (p<0.05) and the mean MD in controls (p<0.001). Hippocampal FA ipsilateral to the seizure focus was lower than the mean FA in controls (p<0.05). MD asymmetry indexes were significantly different between the patient and control groups (p<0.01). All six individual HS patients had ipsilateral hippocampal MD >or=2 standard deviations (S.D.) above the control mean. The patient with normal structural MRI had bilaterally low hippocampal FA and high MD. DISCUSSION: High-resolution DTI identifies lateralizing abnormalities of MD and FA in TLE patients. This quantitative data on hippocampal integrity may assist in evaluating TLE patients with normal MRI, and in longitudinal studies.     

Corticospinal tract degeneration and possible pathogenesis in ALS evaluated by MR diffusion tensor imaging.

BACKGROUND: MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) appears to be a powerful method to investigate the neuronal and axonal fibre distribution in the human brain. Changes in diffusion characteristics of water molecules in the white matter can be estimated as the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the fractional anisotropy index (FA). OBJECTIVES: To characterize DTI changes at three different levels in the corticospinal tract (CST) (corona radiata, internal capsule and pons) in order to elucidate if pathogenesis of ALS is due to an anterograde or retrograde axonal degeneration. METHODS: We studied eight ALS patients with clinical signs of upper motor neuron involvement. The patients were compared with 11 healthy age-matched controls. RESULTS: ADC was significantly increased in the CST in ALS patients at the level of the internal capsule and also increased in the pons, but without statistical significance. ADC was unchanged at the level of the corona radiata. FA was significantly reduced at the lowest level (pons), only tended to be reduced in the internal capsule, but was also unchanged in the corona radiata. CONCLUSIONS: Segmentation of the CST into three regions supports the hypothesis of a 'dying back' mechanism in ALS and suggests that ADC is a more sensitive measure than FA to detect pathological changes in ALS.     

在体磁共振波谱及扩散张力成像观察肌萎缩性侧索硬化的病理变化的研究

目的结合磁共振波谱成像(MRSI)以及扩散张力成像(DTI)技术及磁共振影像(MRI)对肌萎缩性侧索硬化(ALS)进行对照研究,评价MRSI、DTI、MRI在ALS诊断中的作用。方法采用MRSI、DTI及MRI技术对ALS患者及对照组进行扫描,观察沿皮质脊髓束(CST)走行区域包括中央前回皮层下(SWM)、半卵圆中心(CS)、侧脑室旁白质(PV)、内囊后肢(PIC)、大脑脚(CP)的各向异性比(FA)以及平均扩散率(MD),以及SWM、PV、PIC平面氮乙酰门冬胺酸(NAA)与肌酸(Cr)比值在对照组及ALS患者的改变,并比较不同扫描序列在ALS诊断的作用。结果ALS的总FA较对照组明显降低(P<0.001),在CST走行区的SWM、CS、PV和PIC平面,ALS组的FA较对照组明显降低(P<0.05),MD在ALS组有升高的趋势,但无统计学差异。ALS组的NAA/Cr较对照组明显降低(P<0.05),在SWM和PV平面ALS组的NAA/Cr较对照组降低明显(P<0.05)。对T1WI、T2WI与FLAIR序列判断结果显示,对照组与ALS组间MRI的表现无明显差异。结论MRSI与DTI结合能够早期定量探测ALS患者CST的轴索损伤,SWM、CS、PV和PIC平面的FA,在SWM和PV的NAA/Cr为有效的指标。ALS与对照组MRI的表现则无明显差异。     

成人视放射弥散张量纤维束示踪成像的临床应用研究

目的 常规的影像手段对视放射纤维束的成像、分析缺乏特异性,为了弥补常规影像检查的不足,应用弥散张量成像(DTI)和弥散张量纤维束示踪成像(DTT)研究成人视放射的各向异性程度和视放射纤维束的构象特征.方法 对20例正常视放射和24例视放射区域病变的患者进行MR常规及DTI序列检查,分别测量双侧视放射区的部分各向异性(F...     

Upper motor neuron involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis evaluated by triple stimulation technique and diffusion tensor MRI

The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of triple stimulation technique (TST) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography as markers of upper motor neuron (UMN) degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fourteen ALS patients fulfilling the El Escorial criteria and 30 control subjects participated in the study. TST amplitude and area ratio were used as an estimate of the degree of central motor conduction failure. DTI fractional anisotropy was used as a quantitative measure of the structural integrity of the corticospinal tract and the posterior limb of the internal capsule. Mean TST amplitude and area ratio were lower in patients than controls, while there were no differences in mean fractional anisotropy of the corticospinal tract or the posterior limb of the internal capsule. TST was abnormal in 7/13 patients (sensitivity 54 %) and DTI was abnormal in 3/12 (sensitivity 25 %). Combining TST and DTI disclosed abnormalities in 8/11 patients (sensitivity 73 %). TST confirmed UMN degeneration in one of every 2.25 patient in the diagnostic categories lower than ‘probable’ ALS. Using results from TST as a criterion for UMN degeneration, four patients in diagnostic categories lower than ‘probable’ ALS and without clinical signs of UMN degeneration in the cervical region increased in diagnostic category. Our findings indicate that TST has a significant diagnostic value as an early objective marker of UMN degeneration in ALS, while the value of DTI analysis seems limited.     

The corticospinal tract profile in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

This work evaluates the potential in diagnostic application of a new advanced neuroimaging method, which delineates the profile of tissue properties along the corticospinal tract (CST) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), by means of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Twenty‐four ALS patients and twenty‐four demographically matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. The Automated Fiber Quantification (AFQ), a tool for the automatic reconstruction of white matter tract profiles, based on a deterministic tractography algorithm to automatically identify the CST and quantify its diffusion properties, was used. At a group level, the highest non‐overlapping DTI‐related differences were detected in the cerebral peduncle, posterior limb of the internal capsule, and primary motor cortex. Fractional anisotropy (FA) decrease and mean diffusivity (MD) and radial diffusivity (RD) increases were detected when comparing ALS patients to controls. The machine learning approach used to assess the clinical utility of this DTI tool revealed that, by combining all DTI metrics measured along tract between the cerebral peduncle and the corona radiata, a mean 5‐fold cross validation accuracy of 80% was reached in discriminating ALS from controls. Our study provides a useful new neuroimaging tool to characterize ALS‐related neurodegenerative processes by means of CST profile. We demonstrated that specific microstructural changes in the upper part of the brainstem might be considered as a valid biomarker. With further validations this method has the potential to be considered a promising step toward the diagnostic utility of DTI measures in ALS. Hum Brain Mapp 38:727–739, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

弥散张量成像在颅脑损伤昏迷病人中的应用

目的初步探讨颅脑损伤昏迷病人上行网状激活系统(ARAS)弥散张量成像(DTI)和预后的相关性。方法以最近3年的颅脑损伤后昏迷病人为研究对象,在颅脑创伤后的3周和5周行DTI和纤维示踪成像(DTT)检查。种子兴趣区为中脑和桥脑被盖区,目标兴趣区为丘脑板内核。分析ARAS纤维束的部分各向异性(FA)、平均弥散率(MD)、纤维束量(TV),及其变异和病人颅脑创伤3月后意识状态的关系。采用Spearman相关分析,分析FA、MD、TV和预后评分的相关性。结果 3周时上行网状激动系统FA、MD和3月时的预后之间无相关性,TV和3月时的预后有统计学相关性(相关系数为0. 89,P 0. 001)。5周时,FA、TV和3月时的预后呈正相关性(P 0. 001),3周至5周间FA的变异与3月时的GCS评分和GOS评分呈正相关(P 0. 005,P 0. 05),TV变异和3月时GCS评分和GOS评分呈正相关(P 0. 001)。结论颅脑损伤后昏迷患者3月后的意识状态和DTI所模拟颅脑损伤后5周时ARAS的FA、MD、TV及动态变化有相关性。亚急性期上行网状激动系统纤维束的改变可以间接反映患者意识恢复能力。     

Ultrastructural hippocampal and white matter alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to be a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), white matter structural pathology is due to Wallerian degeneration and central angiopathy. However, in MCI patients, the presence and extent of white matter alterations as a possible correlate of impaired memory function and as predictor of subsequent progression to AD is not clarified yet. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals the ultrastructural integrity of cerebral white matter tracts. Therefore, it could detect pathological processes that modify tissue integrity in patients with MCI. In our prospective study, conventional and diffusion tensor MR scans were obtained from 14 patients with MCI, 19 patients with AD, and 10 healthy controls. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in temporal, frontal, parietal and occipital white matter regions as well as in the corpus callosum (genu and splenium) and the hippocampus. MCI patients showed higher MD values in the left centrum semiovale (p = 0.013; right: p = 0.026), in the left temporal (p = 0.006), the right temporal (p = 0.014) and the left hippocampal (p = 0.002) region as compared to the control group. FA values of MCI patients and controls did not differ significantly in any region. Compared to controls, AD patients had increased MD values in the left centrum semiovale (p = 0.012), the left parietal (p = 0.001), the right parietal (p = 0.028), the left temporal (p = 0.018), the right temporal (p = 0.011) and the left hippocampal region (p = 0.002). Decreased FA values were measured in the left temporal area (p = 0.017) and in the left hippocampus (p = 0.031) in AD patients compared to controls. FA and MD values did not differ significantly between AD and MCI patients. Elevated MD values indicating brain tissue alterations in MCI patients were found in regions that are typically involved in early changes due to AD, particularly the left hippocampus. The sensitivity of distinguishing MCI patients from controls was 71.4% (with a specificity set at 80%). Therefore, the DTI technique validates the MCI concept, and diffusion tensor MR measurement can be a helpful tool to quantify MCI pathology in vivo.     

肌萎缩侧索硬化38例弥散张量成像及磁共振波谱表现

目的 研究肌萎缩侧索硬化(ALS)的弥散张量成像(DTI)和磁共振波谱(MRS)特点,并对ALs的病理生理机制进行初步探讨.方法 ALS患者38例,单纯下运动神经元受累疾病患者8例,混合型颈椎病5例和健康对照34名,行常规头颅MRI、DTI和1H-MRS测定.结果 21%(8/38)的ALS患者可见T2 FLAIR序列双侧锥体束走行异常高信号,强度高于皮质灰质.ALS组和健康对照组相比,中央前回(ALS组0.492±0.059,健康对照组0.552 4-0.045,F=17.150,P<0.01)、内囊后肢(分别为0.679 ±0.048、0.727±0.031,F=19.481,P<0.01)、大脑脚(左侧0.740±0.038、0.761±0.024,F=4.290;右侧0.720±0.044、0.746±0.034,F=3.264,均P<0.01)的部分各向异性(FA值)显著降低;ALS组上述部位的N-乙酰大冬氨酸/肌酸(NAA/Cr)值和健康对照组相比亦存在显著降低.AKS组各部位FA值降低百分率分别为10.9%、6.6%、2.8%～3.5%,以中央前回处最为显著;内囊前肢、枕叶处的FA值亦有不同程度降低.结论 DTI和MRS枪测不仪有助于ALS患者:运动神经元高位受累的确认和ALS的诊断和鉴别诊断,而且还可促进对ALS病理机制和病损分布的了解.     

Diffusion tensor MRI assesses corticospinal tract damage in ALS.

BACKGROUND: A number of neurophysiologic and neuroimaging techniques have been evaluated in the research setting to assess upper motor neuron (UMN) damage in ALS. Changes in tissue structure in the CNS modify the diffusional behavior of water molecules, which can be detected by diffusion tensor MRI. OBJECTIVES: To explore the hypothesis that degeneration of the motor fibers in ALS would be reflected by changes in the diffusion characteristics of the white matter fibers in the posterior limb of the internal capsule and that these changes could be detected by diffusion tensor MRI. METHODS: We studied 22 patients with El Escorial definite, probable, or possible ALS-11 with limb onset (mean age 54.5 +/- 10.7 years) and 11 with bulbar onset (mean age 49.6 +/- 11.7 years)-and compared them with 20 healthy, age-matched controls (mean age 46.0 +/- 12.6 years). We assessed central motor conduction time (CMCT), threshold to stimulation, and silent period using transcranial magnetic stimulation. Diffusion tensor MRI was performed using a 1.5-T GE Signa system (Milwaukee, WI) fitted with Advanced NMR hardware and software capable of producing echo planar MR images. Data were acquired from seven coronal slices centered to include the posterior limb of the internal capsule. Maps of the mean diffusivity, fractional anisotropy, and T2-weighted signal intensity were generated. RESULTS: There were no differences between the subject groups on measures of CMCT, threshold to stimulation, and silent period. However, the CMCT correlated with clinical measures of UMN involvement. We found a significant increase in the mean diffusivity and reduction in fractional anisotropy along the corticospinal tracts between the three subject groups, most marked in the bulbar-onset group. The fractional anisotropy correlated with measures of disease severity and UMN involvement, whereas the mean diffusivity correlated with disease duration. CONCLUSION: The results support the use of diffusion tensor MRI in detecting pathology of the corticospinal tracts in ALS.     

White matter pathology in ALS and lower motor neuron ALS variants: a diffusion tensor imaging study using tract-based spatial statistics

The aim of this work was to investigate white-matter microstructural changes within and outside the corticospinal tract in classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in lower motor neuron (LMN) ALS variants by means of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We investigated 22 ALS patients and 21 age-matched controls utilizing a whole-brain approach with a 1.5-T scanner for DTI. The patient group was comprised of 15 classical ALS- and seven LMN ALS-variant patients (progressive muscular atrophy, flail arm and flail leg syndrome). Disease severity was measured by the revised version of the functional rating scale. White matter fractional anisotropy (FA) was assessed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and a region of interest (ROI) approach. We found significant FA reductions in motor and extra-motor cerebral fiber tracts in classical ALS and in the LMN ALS-variant patients compared to controls. The voxel-based TBSS results were confirmed by the ROI findings. The white matter damage correlated with the disease severity in the patient group and was found in a similar distribution, but to a lesser extent, among the LMN ALS-variant subgroup. ALS and LMN ALS variants are multisystem degenerations. DTI shows the potential to determine an earlier diagnosis, particularly in LMN ALS variants. The statistically identical findings of white matter lesions in classical ALS and LMN variants as ascertained by DTI further underline that these variants should be regarded as part of the ALS spectrum.     

脑白质疏松症的磁共振扩散张量成像研究及其与急性腔隙性脑梗死的鉴别

目的 研究脑白质疏松症(LA)和急性腔隙性脑梗死(LD在磁共振扩散张量(DTI)影像学上的特点,探讨DTI对LA诊断及其与LI鉴别诊断的价值.方法 对28例LA患者、11例LI患者和20名正常老年人行DTI扫描,测量LA病灶区、形似正常(NAWM)区、LI梗死中心、健侧对应部位和对照组正常白质区的平均扩散系数(MD)、部分各项异性(FA)值.结果 LA患者病灶分别较NAWM、对照组以及LA NAWM区较对照组,MD值升高,FA值降低.各组大脑半球左右侧(除LA NAWM区侧脑室前端和后端周围MD值外)MD和FA值无显著性差异;随LA严重程度增加,MD值升高,而FA值降低;LI梗死中心较健侧对应部位和对照组MD值、FA值均较对照组降低.结论 DTI在监测脑白质病变上远比常规MRI灵敏度高,可发现早期的LA病变.LA的DTI参数变化反映了脑白质微结构改变.LA和急性LI在DTI的表现有特征性差异,显示出DTI在LA诊断及其与LI鉴别诊断的价值.     

MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy: role for diffusion tensor imaging in high field MRI

OBJECTIVE: Our aim is to use the high field MR scanner (3T) to verify whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) could help in locating the epileptogenic zone in patients with MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy. METHOD: Fifteen patients with refractory partial epilepsy who had normal conventional MRI, and 40 healthy volunteers were recruited for the study. DTI was performed on a 3T MR scanner, individual maps of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated, and Voxel-Based Analysis (VBA) was performed for individual comparison between patients and controls. RESULT: Voxel-based analysis revealed significant MD increase in variant regions in 13 patients. The electroclinical seizure localization was concurred to seven patients. No patient exhibited regions of significant decreased MD. Regions of significant reduced FA were observed in five patients, with two of these concurring with electroclinical seizure localization. Two patients had regions of significant increase in FA, which were distinct from electroclinical seizure localization. CONCLUSION: Our study's results revealed that DTI is a responsive neuroradiologic technique that provides information about the epileptogenic areas in patients with MRI-negative refractory partial epilepsy. This technique may also helpful in pre-surgical evaluation.     

Structural changes in cerebellar outflow tracts after thalamotomy in essential tremor

BackgroundThis study set out to determine whether structural changes are present outside the thalamus after thalamotomy in patients with essential tremor (ET), specifically in the cerebellorubrothalamic tracts. We hypothesized that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) would detect these changes.MethodsWe collected DTI scans and analyzed differences in Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Mean Diffusivity (MD) between the left and right superior and middle cerebellar peduncle in ET patients that have undergone unilateral, left, thalamotomy and ET patients that did not undergo thalamotomy (control group). We used classical ROI-based statistics to determine whether changes are present.ResultsWe found decreased FA and increased MD values in the right superior cerebellar peduncle leading to the left, lesioned thalamus, only in the thalamotomy group.ConclusionsOur study suggests long-term structural changes in the cerebellorubrothalamic tract after thalamotomy. This contributes to further understanding of the biological mechanism following surgical lesions in the basal ganglia.     

Corticospinal fibers with different origins impair in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging study

Aims

To investigate microstructural impairments of corticospinal tracts (CSTs) with different origins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).

Methods

Diffusion-weighted imaging data acquired from 39 patients with ALS and 50 controls were used to estimate NODDI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) models. Fine maps of CST subfibers originating from the primary motor area (M1), premotor cortex, primary sensory area, and supplementary motor area (SMA) were segmented. NODDI metrics (neurite density index [NDI] and orientation dispersion index [ODI]) and DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean/axial/radial diffusivity [MD/AD/RD]) were computed.

Results

The patients with ALS showed microstructural impairments (reflected by NDI, ODI, and FA reductions and MD, AD, and RD increases) in CST subfibers, especially in M1 fibers, which correlated with disease severity. Compared with other diffusion metrics, NDI yielded a higher effect size and detected the greatest extent of CST subfibers damage. Logistic regression analyses based on NDI in M1 subfiber yielded the best diagnostic performance compared with other subfibers and the whole CST.

Conclusions

Microstructural impairment of CST subfibers (especially those originating from M1) is the key feature of ALS. The combination of NODDI and CST subfibers analysis may improve diagnosing performance for ALS.