MR扩散张量成像评价脑室旁白质软化症脑性瘫痪患儿认知功能的研究

目的 探讨MR DTI及白质纤维束成像(FT)在评价脑室旁白质软化症(PVL)脑性瘫痪患儿认知功能中的应用价值,为揭示PVL患儿认知功能障碍的可能神经基础提供帮助.方法 选取46例临床确诊为脑性瘫痪的PVL患儿,同时选择足月无窒息史的健康儿童16名进行对照研究.应用发育商(DQ)评价患儿认知功能,根据DQ值将患儿分为轻(11例)、中(19例)、重度(16例)认知障碍组.对受试儿童进行常规MRI及DTI检查,计算各组患儿主要白质纤维束各向异性分数(FA)值,患儿组与对照组间进行非配对t检验,各认知障碍组及对照组组间比较采用单因素方差分析.结果 与对照组相比,患儿组左侧皮质脊髓束(患儿组:0.476 ±0.064;对照组:0.531±0.064),双侧内囊前肢(患儿组:左侧0.357±0.050,右侧0.370±0.040;对照组:左侧0.405±0.081,右侧0.405±0.036),双侧内囊后肢(患儿组:左侧0.483±0.044,右侧0.485±0.046;对照组:左侧0.546±0.091,右侧0.547±0.083),双侧弓状束(患儿组:左侧0.367±0.069,右侧0.363±0.064;对照组:左侧0.433±0.097,右侧0.421±0.091),双侧丘脑后辐射(患儿组:左侧0.390±0.059,右侧0.382±0.047;对照组:左侧0.459±0.067,右侧0.446±0.064),双侧前扣带束(患儿组:左侧0.362±0.056,右侧0.345±0.056;对照组:左侧0.423±0.057,右侧0.417±0.080),双侧上纵束(患儿组:左侧0.323±0.050,右侧0.341±0.056;对照组:左侧0.426±0.102,右侧0.416±0.092)及胼胝体压部(患儿组:0.535±0.090;对照组:0.606±0.060)的FA值显著减低,差异有统计学意义(t值为2.037 ～3.745,P值均＜0.05);随认知障碍程度的加重,所有纤维束的FA值逐渐下降,各认知障碍组及对照组进行组间比较发现双侧皮质脊髓束、内囊前肢、内囊后肢、左侧弓状束、双侧丘脑后辐射、前扣带束、上纵束及胼胝体压部的FA值差异有统计学意义(F值为3.021 ～7.146,P值均＜0.05).进一步两两比较显示,以上纤维束的FA值在对照组与重度认知障碍组间比较,差异均有统计学意义(P值均＜0.05).结论 PVL患儿认知功能障碍与脑内广泛白质纤维束损伤有关,DTI及FT在评价PVL患儿认知功能方面有较高的应用价值.     

Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of the kidneys: assessment of chronic parenchymal diseases

Objective

To assess renal dysfunction in chronic kidney diseases using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).

Methods

Forty-seven patients with impaired renal function (study group) and 17 patients without renal diseases (control group) were examined using DTI sequences. Cortical and medullary regions of interest (ROIs) were located to obtain the corresponding values of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the fractional anisotropy (FA). The mean values of the ADC and FA, for each ROI site, were obtained in each group and were compared. Furthermore, the correlations between the diffusion parameters and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were determined.

Results

In both the normal and affected kidneys, we obtained the cortico-medullary difference of the ADC and the FA values. The FA value in the medulla was significantly lower (P?=?0.0149) in patients with renal function impairment as compared to patients with normal renal function. A direct correlation between DTI parameters and the eGFR was not found. Tractography visualised disruption of the regular arrangement of the tracts in patient with renal function alteration.

Conclusion

DTI could be a useful tool in the evaluation of chronic kidney disease and, in particular, the medullary FA value seems to be the main parameter for assessing renal damage.

Key Points

? Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MRDTI) provides new information about renal problems. ? DTI allows non-invasive repeatable evaluation of the renal parenchyma, without contrast media. ? DTI could become useful in the management of chronic parenchymal disease. ? DTI seems more appropriate for renal evaluation than diffusion-weighted imaging.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in chronic subdural hematoma: correlation between clinical signs and fractional anisotropy in the pyramidal tract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was introduced as a good technique to evaluate structural abnormalities in the white matter. In this study, we used DTI to examine anisotropic changes of the pyramidal tracts displaced by chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH).MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with unilateral CSDH underwent DTI before and after surgery. We measured fractional anisotropy (FA) values in pyramidal tracts of bilateral cerebral peduncles and calculated the ratio of the FA value on the lesion side to that on the contralateral side (FA ratio) and compared the ratios with motor weakness. Moreover, the relationships between FA ratios and clinical factors such as age, sex, midline shift, interval from trauma, and hematoma attenuation on CT were evaluated.RESULTS: FA values of pyramidal tracts on the lesion side were significantly lower than those on the contralateral side (0.66 ± 0.07 versus 0.74 ± 0.05, P < .0001). The FA ratio was correlated to the severity of motor weakness (r² = 0.32, P = .002). FA ratios after surgery improved significantly compared with those before surgery (0.96 ± 0.08 versus 0.89 ± 0.07, P = .0004). Intervals from trauma and the midline shift were significantly associated with decreased FA ratios (P = .0008 and P = .037).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CSDH, a reversible decrease of FA in the affected pyramidal tract on DTI was correlated to motor weakness. These anisotropic changes were considered to be caused by a reversible distortion of neuron fibers and vasogenic edema due to the hematoma.

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a progressive space-occupying lesion, which may lead to reversible reduction in cerebral function due to brain compression or brain displacement. The causes, clinical characteristics, and therapeutic management of CSDH are well established; however, the detailed physiology, including the mechanisms of appearance with motor dysfunction in patients, is still controversial.^1–4Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals the tissue microstructure and architecture of white matter tracts, including pyramidal tracts, and extracts the principal diffusivities, mean diffusivities (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA). Previously, it was reported that decreased FA in the pyramidal tracts on DTI was associated with secondary degeneration and could be a reliable measure of motor weakness.^5–8 The purpose of this study was to investigate changes of DTI in affected pyramidal tracts of patients with CSDH and to evaluate the association between changes of FA and clinical factors such as age, sex, hematoma thickness, midline shift, interval from the trauma, and attenuation on CT.     

Diffusion tensor imaging of tract involvement in children with pontine tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional MR imaging permits subcategorization of brain stem tumors by location and focality; however, assessment of white matter tract involvement by tumor is limited. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a promising method for visualizing white matter tract tumor involvement supratentorially. We investigated the ability of DTI to visualize and quantify white matter tract involvement in pontine tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: DTI data (echo-planar, 1.5T) were retrospectively analyzed in 7 patients with pontine tumors (6 diffuse, 1 focal), 4 patient controls, and 5 normal volunteers. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were calculated from the diffusion tensor in 6 regions of interest: bilateral corticospinal tracts, transverse pontine fibers, and medial lemnisci. Relationships between FA and ADC values and results of the neurologic examinations were evaluated. RESULTS: The corticospinal tracts and transverse pontine fibers were affected more often than the medial lemnisci. The DTI parameters (FA and ADC) were significantly altered in all tracts of patients with pontine tumors (P < .05), compared with those values in the control groups. A marginally significant (P = .057) association was seen between the severity of cranial nerve deficit and decreased FA. CONCLUSION: DTI provided superior visualization and quantification of tumor involvement in motor, sensory, and transverse pontine tracts, compared with information provided by conventional MR imaging. Thus, DTI may be a sensitive measure of tract invasion. Further prospective studies are warranted to assess the ability of DTI to delineate tumor focality and improve risk stratification in children with pontine tumors.     

Diffusion tensor MR imaging in chronic spinal cord injury

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion tensor MR imaging is emerging as an important tool for displaying anatomic changes in the brain after injury or disease but has been less widely applied to disorders of the spinal cord. The aim of this study was to characterize the diffusion properties of the entire human spinal cord in vivo during the chronic stages of spinal cord injury (SCI). These data provide insight into the structural changes that occur as a result of long-term recovery from spinal trauma.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirteen neurologically intact subjects and 10 subjects with chronic SCI (>4 years postinjury) were enrolled in this study. A single-shot twice-refocused spin-echo diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging pulse sequence was used to obtain axial images throughout the entire spinal cord (C1-L1) in <60 minutes.RESULTS: Despite heterogeneity in SCI lesion severity and location, diffusion characteristics of the chronic lesion were significantly elevated compared with those of uninjured controls. Fractional anisotropy was significantly lower at the chronic lesion and appeared dependent on the completeness of the injury. Conversely, mean diffusivity measurements in the upper cervical spinal cord in subjects with SCI were significantly lower than those in controls. These trends suggest that the entire neuraxis may be affected by long-term recovery from spinal trauma.CONCLUSION: These results suggest that diffusion tensor imaging may be useful in the assessment of SCI recovery.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been successfully used to characterize structural changes in neural tissue after spinal artery stroke,¹ multiple sclerosis,^2,3 cervical spondylotic myelopathy,⁴ spinal cord compression,⁵ and acute spinal cord injury (SCI)^6,7; however, DTI has not been used to explore the long-term changes in spinal cord structure known to accompany chronic SCI.^8–11 The purpose of this study was to characterize the diffusion values of the entire spinal cord in humans with chronic SCI (>4 years postinjury) by using a clinically available pulse sequence and comparing these data with normative DTI characteristics reported previously.¹² On the basis of previous work,¹³ we hypothesized that diffusion characteristics would be significantly altered throughout the entire length of the spinal cord.DTI research in SCI largely involves the use of experimental animal models to examine changes in diffusivity that accompany the early stages of injury. These studies have suggested overall diffusivity increases and diffusion anisotropy decreases near the injury site^14–18 due to axonal damage and/or vasogenic edema.¹⁵ Although a few studies have been conducted with human spinal cord pathologies,^4–7,19 they have also demonstrated an increase in diffusivity and a decrease in diffusion anisotropy.DTI may be useful for identifying the characteristics of chronic SCI, because structural changes in the spinal cord during the chronic stages may differ from the normal spinal cord and the spinal cord in acute stages of injury. For example, extensive longitudinal spreading of lesions in the late stages of injury creates widespread changes in the spinal cord morphology, including cyst formation and necrosis.²⁰ Changes in diffusivity associated with these structural alterations may make it possible to identify the rostral and caudal extent of a spinal lesion by using DTI. Many therapeutic interventions for rehabilitation after SCI, including functional electric stimulation²¹ and gait training,²² rely on intact spinal motoneurons below the level of the lesion. Incomplete injury in segments below the injury may be particularly difficult to identify by using physical or electrophysiologic measurements because sensory and motor function is often reduced or absent below the level of injury. Thus, DTI provides an opportunity to assess the integrity of the spinal cord.DTI might also be sensitive to changes in the structure of the spinal cord tissue in regions distant from the spinal lesion in chronic injury. Although the chronic stages of SCI are typically considered stable,^23,24 progressive demyelination in chronic SCI has been documented,^8–10 and remyelination, when it occurs, can result in significantly decreased myelin sheath thickness^8,25–27 and preferential loss of large-diameter axons.²⁶ Also, considerable atrophy of the spinal cord occurs in the late stages of SCI, causing the remaining axons to be compressed and tightly packed.¹¹ These changes could increase the attenuation of diffusion barriers, which would be consistent with the decrease in mean diffusivity recently reported in the upper cervical spinal cord rostral to the injury in a small number of subjects with chronic SCI.¹³Thus, the primary aim of this study was to characterize the diffusion properties across the entire spinal cord (C1–L1 vertebral levels) in humans with chronic SCI by using a clinically available DTI pulse sequence. We then compared these data with diffusion characteristics from a previously published young neurologically intact sample.¹²     

Diffusion tensor imaging of rectal carcinoma: Clinical evaluation and its correlation with histopathological findings

ObjectiveThis study sought to assess the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to noninvasively evaluate histological grade and lymph node metastasis in patients with rectal carcinoma (RC).MethodsThirty-seven consecutive patients with histologically confirmed RC were examined by 1.5-T MRI. DTI was performed using a single-shot echo-planar imaging sequence with b values of 0 and 1000 s/mm² and motion-probing gradients in nine noncollinear directions. Fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD) maps were compared with histopathological findings.ResultsThe FA values (0.357 ± 0.047) of the RCs were significantly lower than those of the normal rectal wall, muscle, prostate, and uterus (P < 0.001 for all), while the AD, MD, and RD values (1.221 ± 0.131, 0.804 ± 0.075, and 0.667 ± 0.057 × 10⁻³ mm²/s, respectively) were also significantly lower than their respective normal values (P < 0.001 for all). The FA, AD, MD, and RD values for RC additionally showed significant inverse correlations with histological grades (r = −0.781, r = −0.750, r = −0.718, and r = −0.682, respectively; P < 0.001 for all). Further, the FA (0.430 vs. 0.611), AD (1.246 vs. 1.608 × 10⁻³ mm²/s), MD (0.776 vs. 1.036 × 10⁻³ mm²/s), and RD (0.651 vs. 0.824 × 10⁻³ mm²/s) (P < 0.001 for all) of the metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes were significantly different.ConclusionsDTI may be clinically useful for the noninvasive evaluation of histological grade and lymph node metastasis in patients with RC.     

Diffusion tensor tractography and neuropsychological assessment in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency

Introduction

Structural imaging of the brain does not demonstrate any changes in a vast majority of patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, even in advanced stages. In this study, we aimed to assess and correlate the functional integrity of the brain fiber tracts using diffusion tensor tractography with neuropsychological examination in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency.

Methods

The study was conducted at two tertiary care centers. Thirty-two patients with vitamin B12 deficiency were enrolled and subjected to diffusion tensor tractography, as an extension of diffusion tensor imaging, and neuropsychological assessment. Tests of significance were done to detect changes, pre- and post-vitamin B12 supplementation in the diffusivity parameters (fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity) and the neuropsychological test scores.

Results

Statistically significant changes were observed in the diffusivity parameters and the neuropsychological test scores between the controls and the patients with vitamin B12deficiency in the pre- and post-treatment phases.

Conclusions

This is the first study to evaluate the diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) parameters in the light of clinical neuropsychological assessment in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency. Utilization of DTT parameters may antedate structural changes and may quantify the neurocognitive deficits.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in children with periventricular leukomalacia: variability of injuries to white matter tracts

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Conventional MR imaging shows evidence of brain injury and/or maldevelopment in 70%-90% of children with cerebral palsy (CP), though its capability to identify specific white matter tract injury is limited. The great variability of white matter lesions in CP already demonstrated by postmortem studies is thought to be one of the reasons why response to treatment is so variable. Our hypothesis is that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a suitable technique to provide in vivo characterization of specific white matter tract lesions in children with CP associated with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 24 children with CP associated with PVL and 35 healthy controls were evaluated with DTI. Criteria for identification of 26 white matter tracts on the basis of 2D DTI color-coded maps were established, and a qualitative scoring system, based on visual inspection of the tracts in comparison with age-matched controls, was used to grade the severity of abnormalities. An ordinal grading system (0=normal, 1=abnormal, 2=severely abnormal or absent) was used to score each white matter tract. RESULTS: There was marked variability in white matter injury pattern in patients with PVL, with the most frequent injury to the retrolenticular part of the internal capsule, posterior thalamic radiation, superior corona radiata, and commissural fibers. CONCLUSION: DTI is a suitable technique for in vivo assessment of specific white matter lesions in patients with PVL and, thus, a potentially valuable diagnostic tool. The tract-specific evaluation revealed a family of tracts that are highly susceptible in PVL, important information that can potentially be used to tailor treatment options in the future.     

Diffusion tensor imaging of peripheral nerve in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy: a feasibility study

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for the evaluation of peripheral nerves in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP).

Methods

Using a 3-T magnetic resonance imaging scanner, we obtained DTI scans of the tibial nerves of 10 CIDP patients and 10 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers. We prepared fractional anisotropy (FA) maps, measured the FA values of tibial nerves, and compared these values in the two study groups. In nine patients, we also performed tibial nerve conduction studies and analyzed the correlation between the FA values and parameters of the nerve conduction study.

Results

The tibial nerve FA values in CIDP patients (median 0.401, range 0.312?C0.510) were significantly lower than those in healthy volunteers (median 0.530, range 0.469?C0.647) (Mann?CWhitney test, p?<?0.01). They were significantly correlated with the amplitude of action potential (Spearman correlation coefficient, p?=?0.04, r?=?0.86) but not with nerve conduction velocity (p?=?0.79, r?=?0.11).

Conclusion

Our preliminary data suggest that the noninvasive DTI assessment of peripheral nerves may provide useful information in patients with CIDP.     

扩散张量成像在腹部的应用

扩散张量成像是在扩散加权成像(DWI)技术基础上改进和发展的一项新技术,突出强调水分子扩散的各向异性,可以从细胞及分子水平研究疾病病理改变情况。腹部DTI的研究尚属起步阶段,对近年国内外关于腹部脏器的DTI研究予以综述,主要关注DTI在肝脏、肾脏及前列腺的研究进展情况。     

Diffusion tensor tractography in patients with cerebral tumors: a helpful technique for neurosurgical planning and postoperative assessment

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the role of diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) in preoperative mapping of eloquent tracts in relation to cerebral tumors and to determine whether it is helpful for neurosurgical planning and postoperative assessment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Sixteen patients with brain tumors underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The pyramidal tract, corpus callosum and optic radiation were reconstructed and the exact location of a lesion with respect to these tracts was observed to design a reasonable surgical plan for preserving vital tracts while maximizing tumor resection. After surgery, DTI was performed again and these tracts were evaluated to investigate the surgical outcomes. Twenty-four patients with suspicion of pyramidal tract involvement were also evaluated as a control group. RESULTS: The relationship between tracts and tumors was classified as three types: type I is simple displacement, type II is displacement with disruption and type III is simple disruption. Twelve cases involved in pyramidal tract (DTT group), one was type I with reduction of displacement after surgery, nine were type II with reduction of displacement and other two were type III without any improvement. The extent of tumor resection (p = 0.045) and postoperative improvement of locomotive function (p = 0.015) of DTT group were significantly higher than those of control group. Corpus callosum was involved in seven cases, three were type II with reduction of displacement and four were type III without any improvement. Optic radiation was involved in three cases, all were type I with reduction of displacement. CONCLUSION: DTT allowed for visualization of the exact location of tumors relevant to eloquent tracts and was found to be beneficial in the neurosurgical planning and postoperative assessment.     

心肌梗死后微观结构重构的扩散张量成像和血清TSP-1的相关性

目的:探讨心肌梗死后不同时间节点心肌重构的扩散张量成像(DTI)指标和血清中血小板反应蛋白-1(TSP-1)的动态演变规律及两者间的相关性.方法:选用37只成年雄性兔,分为对照组(n=5)和实验组(n=32).实验组采用结扎冠状动脉左室支来建立心肌梗死模型,分别在术后1、4、8及16周(每亚组n=8)时于存活兔(26只)的耳缘静脉采血检测血清中TSP-1的含量,随后处死实验兔获取离体心脏标本进行3.0T DTI扫描,测量心肌梗死区、边缘区和非梗死区的各向异性分数(FA)和平均扩散系数(MD)值.动态监测DTI指标和TSP-1的变化,分析两者之间的关系.结果:①心肌梗死区和边缘区的FA值在术后第1周时均显著下降,之后下降较缓慢,在第4周时达最低.②心肌梗死区MD值在术后4周内迅速明显上升而边缘区MD值呈缓慢渐进性升高,两者均在第4周时达高峰.③TSP-1在术后4周内迅速显著升高,在第8周时稍下降,之后又轻度升高,在第16周时达到高峰.④在梗死区和边缘区,FA值与TSP-1均呈负相关(rcIZ =-0.542,P＜0.01;rPIZ=-0.511,P＜0.01),而MD值与TSP-1有正相关关系(rCIZ=0.501,P＜0.01和rPIZ=0.436,P＜0.05).结论:心肌梗死后心室重构演变复杂,主要在术后1周时重构最为明显,4周时达高峰水平.TSP-1可能在重构中发挥调控作用,且对FA值影响较MD值大.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in patients with essential tremor

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The traditional paradigm has regarded essential tremor (ET) as a benign disorder. However, recent clinical, neuroimaging, and neuropathologic studies suggest that ET may be a progressive neurologic disorder. Based on clinicopathologic findings that cerebellum and its outflow are the key structures in ET and degeneration of gray matter in cerebellum is followed by consequent wallerian degeneration of white matter (WM) fibers, the aim of the present study was to investigate changes in anisotropy in patients with ET.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fractional anisotropy (FA) images were generated from DTI data acquired at 1.5T in 10 patients with ET compared with 8 control subjects by using statistical parametric mapping to make voxel-by-voxel comparisons.RESULTS: Compared with the control subjects, the patients with ET exhibited significantly reduced FA (P_uncorrected < .005) in the anterolateral portion of the right pons and decreased FA in the bilateral cerebellum, left retrorubral area of the midbrain, and bilateral deep WM, including the orbitofrontal, lateral frontal, parietal, and temporal WM.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that structural changes in the WM are extensive in patients with ET, supporting the findings of previous functional neuroimaging and pathologic studies.

Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, characterized by a 4- to 12-Hz kinetic and postural tremor affecting the hands, head, or other parts of the body. The traditional paradigm has regarded ET as a benign disorder; however, there is growing evidence that it may be a progressive neurologic disorder.^1,2 Although the pathophysiology of ET remains unknown, recent clinical, neuroimaging, and neuropathologic studies suggested that disturbance of cerebellum and its outflow pathway (cerebellothalamocortical loop) might play an important role in the pathogenesis of ET.^1–5Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has recently been introduced for the in vivo estimation of white matter (WM) tissue composition.⁶ The diffusion of water molecules in normal WM is imposed on the ordered structure of axons and myelin sheaths, called anisotropy. WM pathology disrupts the coherent orientation of axons, leading to decreased tissue anisotropy.⁷ Thus, anisotropy is an index of the organization of axons and allows the demonstration of fiber tracts in vivo.Based on clinicopathologic findings that cerebellum and its outflow are the key structures in ET and degeneration of gray matter in cerebellum is followed by consequent wallerian degeneration of WM fibers,⁸ the aim of the present study was to investigate changes in anisotropy in patients with ET. In this study, we used statistical parametric mapping (SPM) to make voxel-by-voxel comparisons between the anisotropic measurements in patients with ET and control subjects.     

Diffusion tensor imaging in hydrocephalus: initial experience

PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MR imaging-based technique that provides an in vivo tool for visualization of white matter tracts. In this preliminary study, we used this technique to investigate the diffusion characteristics of white matter tracts in patients with hydrocephalus before and after surgery and compared them with age-matched volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with different types of acute hydrocephalus (defined by acute clinical signs of increased intracranial pressure and imaging evidence of enlarged ventricles) underwent MR imaging including a DTI protocol before and after surgery for shunt placement/revision or ventriculostomy. Eight age-matched healthy subjects served as a control group. The DTI was acquired in a clinical setting that included 6 gradient directions with a b value of 1000 s/mm(2). RESULTS: Before surgery, in fiber systems lateral to the ventricles (corona radiata), the diffusion parallel to the fibers was increased (+10%) and the diffusion perpendicular to the fibers was decreased (-25%) in all patients, resulting in an overall increase in the fractional diffusion anisotropy (FA, +28%). Following surgery, the FA values approached those of control values in all except 1 patient. In the corpus callosum, the presurgery FA values in patients with hydrocephalus (HCP) were lower than those of control values, and no significant changes were seen following surgery. CONCLUSIONS: DTI can distinguish the compression characteristics of white matter before and after surgery in patients with HCP. At the acute stage of the disease, DTI characteristics point to white matter compression as a possible cause of the observed changes.     

Diffusion tensor imaging of patients with HIV and normal-appearing white matter on MR images of the brain

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: HIV enters the CNS early in the course of infection and produces neuropsychiatric impairment throughout the course of illness, which preferentially affects the subcortical white matter. The development of a neuroimaging marker of HIV may allow for the earliest detection of cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MR diffusion tensor imaging can detect white matter abnormalities in patients who have tested positive for HIV. METHODS: Ten patients with HIV (eight men and two women; mean age, 42 years) underwent MR imaging of the brain with MR diffusion tensor imaging, which included routine fluid-attenuated inversion recovery and fast spin-echo T2-weighted imaging. Diffusion constants and anisotropy indices were calculated from diffusion tensor maps. Peripheral viral load, Centers for Disease Control staging, and cluster of differentiation 4 levels were determined. RESULTS: All patients had normal results of MR imaging of the brain, except for mild atrophy. Four of 10 patients had undetectable viral loads. These patients were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. The diffusion constant and anisotropy were normal. Four of 10 patients had viral loads between 10,000 and 200,000. Diffusion anisotropy in the splenium and genu was significantly decreased (P < .02). The diffusion constant of the subcortical white matter was elevated in the frontal and parietooccipital lobes (11%). Two of 10 patients had viral loads >400,000. Anisotropy of the splenium was half normal (P < .0004) and of the genu was decreased 25% (P < .002). The average diffusion constant was diffusely elevated in the subcortical white matter. CONCLUSION: Calculating the diffusion constant and anisotropy in the subcortical white matter and corpus callosum in patients with HIV detected abnormalities despite normal-appearing white matter on MR images and nonfocal neurologic examinations. Patients with the highest diffusion constant elevations and largest anisotropy decreases had the most advanced HIV disease. Patients with the lowest viral load levels, who had normal anisotropy and diffusion constants, were receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.     

Diffusion tensor tractography-based analysis of the cingulum: clinical utility and findings in traumatic brain injury with chronic sequels

Introduction

To evaluate the clinical utility of quantitative diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) and tractography-based core analysis (TBCA) of the cingulum by defining the reproducibility, normal values, and findings in traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

Eighty patients with TBI and normal routine MRI and 78 controls underwent MRI at 3T. To determine reproducibility, 12 subjects were scanned twice. Superior (SC) and inferior (IC) cingulum were analyzed separately by DTT (fractional anisotropy (FA) thresholds 0.15 and 0.30). TBCA was performed from volumes defined by tractography with gradually changed FA thresholds. FA values were correlated with clinical and neuropsychological data.

Results

The lowest coefficient of variation was obtained at DTT threshold 0.30 (2.0 and 2.4 % for SC and IC, respectively), but in proportion to standard deviations of normal controls, the reproducibility of TBCA was better in SC and similar to that of DTT in IC. In patients with TBI, volume reduction with loss of peripheral fibers was relatively common; mean FA was mostly normal in these tractograms. The frequency of FA reductions (>2 SD) was in DTT smaller than in TBCA, in which FA decrease was present in 42 (13.1 %) of the 320 measurements. Central FA values in SC predicted visuoperceptual ability, and those in left IC predicted cognitive speed, language, and communication ability (p?Conclusion Tractography-based measurements have sufficient reproducibility for demonstration of severe abnormalities of the cingulum. TBCA is preferential for clinical FA analysis, because it measures corresponding areas in patients and controls without inaccuracies due to trauma-induced structural changes.     

扩散张量成像在强迫症中的应用研究进展

强迫症(obsessivecompulsive disorder, OCD)是一种以无法控制的强迫思维和(或)强迫动作为临床特征的精神疾病,其突出特点是自我强迫与反强迫同时存在,两者的强烈冲突使患者感到焦虑和痛苦.它是临床上常见的一种慢性精神疾病,国外报道其终身患病率为2%～3%[1].强迫症的病因复杂,且临床表现不一.     

Diffusion tensor imaging to guide surgical planning in intramedullary spinal cord tumors in children

Introduction

Intramedullary spinal cord neoplasms (ISCN) in children provide diagnostic, treatment and management dilemmas. Resection results in the best chance for disease control, but the greatest risk of neurologic deficit. We hypothesize that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor-fiber tracking (DT-FT) can help characterize margins of pediatric ISCN to aid in surgical planning.

Methods

This HIPAA compliant retrospective study was performed after Institutional Review Board approval. Patients with ISCN from a single tertiary care pediatric institution were identified, and patients with preoperative DTI were evaluated.

Results

Ten patients (eight males and two females) with ISCN with preoperative DTI were identified. The mean age was 11.1?±?6.2 years (range, 2–18 years). Eight tumors demonstrated DTI and DT-FT evidence of splayed cord tracts, and two demonstrated evidence of infiltration of cord tracts. The eight patients with splayed tracts underwent resection, with seven achieving gross-total resection and one subtotal resection. The two patients with infiltration of white matter tracts underwent biopsy of their lesion.

Conclusions

DTI of pediatric ISCN can aid in defining the margins of the tumor and relationship to the intrinsic white matter structures of the spinal cord. Splaying and displacement of fiber tracts appears to predict a discrete margin to the tumor and resectability, whereas infiltration of the white matter tracts suggests biopsy may be more advisable.