阿尔茨海默病患者联络纤维的DTI诊断价值

目的采用磁共振扩散张量成像(diffusion tensor imaging,DTI)观察阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)患者联络纤维的改变情况。资料与方法对10例轻中度AD患者和18名健康老年人(对照组)行常规MRI[(T1WI、T2WI、T2液体衰减反转恢复序列(FLAIR)]及DTI检查,DTI测量双侧扣带束、上纵束Ⅱ、钩束及额枕下束8个感兴趣区(ROI)的部分各向异性分数(FA)值。采用简易精神状态量表(MMSE)和蒙特利尔认知评估量表(MoCA)对AD患者的认知功能进行测定。结果与对照组相比,AD组MMSE评分和MoCA评分较对照组明显下降(P<0.05),AD组常规MRI上ROI白质信号无明显变化,ROI部位的FA值均显著下降(P<0.05),且上纵束Ⅱ的FA值与MMSE(右侧r=0.672,P=0.033,左侧r=0.919,P<0.01)和MoCA(右侧r=0,747,P=0.013;左侧r=0.679,P=0.031)评分呈正相关。结论轻中度AD患者存在联络纤维损害且上纵束Ⅱ的损害程度与认知功能密切相关。     

Diffusion tensor imaging as potential biomarker of white matter injury in diffuse axonal injury

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Multiple biomarkers are used to quantify the severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to predict outcome. Few are satisfactory. CT and conventional MR imaging underestimate injury and correlate poorly with outcome. New MR imaging techniques, including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), can provide information about brain ultrastructure by quantifying isotropic and anisotropic water diffusion. Our objective was to determine if changes in anisotropic diffusion in TBI correlate with acute Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and/or Rankin scores at discharge. METHODS: Twenty patients (15 male, five Female; mean age, 31 years) were evaluated. Apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values were measured at multiple locations and correlated with clinical scores. Results were compared with those of 15 healthy control subjects. RESULTS: ADC values were significantly reduced within the splenium (Delta18%, P =.001). FA values were significantly reduced in the internal capsule (Delta14%; P <.001) and splenium (Delta16%; P =.002). FA values were significantly correlated with GCS (r = 0.65-0.74; P <.001) and Rankin (r = 0.68-0.71; P <.001) scores for the internal capsule and splenium. The correlation between FA and clinical markers was better than for the corresponding ADC values. No correlation was found between ADC of the internal capsule and GCS/Rankin scores. CONCLUSION: DTI reveals changes in the white matter that are correlated with both acute GCS and Rankin scores at discharge. DTI may be a valuable biomarker for the severity of tissue injury and a predictor for outcome.     

Potential of diffusion tensor MRI in the assessment of periventricular leukomalacia

AIM: To investigate magnetic resonance (MR) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fibre tractography in the assessment of altered major white matter (WM) fibre tracts in periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve children (male:female = 7:5, age range 3-10 years; mean age = 6.5 years) who had suffered PVL were included in this study. Meanwhile, Twelve age-matched normal controls (male:female = 6:6, age range 4-12 years; mean age = 7.3 years) with normal MRI findings and no neurological abnormalities were recruited for comparison. DTI was performed with 15 different diffusion gradient directions and DTI colour maps were created from fractional anisotropy (FA) values and the three vector elements. To identify alteration of WM fibre tracts in patient of PVL quantitatively, FA values on diffusion tensor colour maps were compared between the patients and controls. Quantitative analysis was performed using the regions of interest (ROI) method settled on the central part of all identifiable WM fibres, including the corticospinal tract (CST) in the brainstem, middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP), medial lemniscus (ML), anterior/posterior limb of internal capsule (ICAL/ICPL), arcuate fasciculus (AF), posterior thalamic radiation (PTR), genu of corpus callosum (GCC), splenium of corpus callosum (SCC), corona radiata (CR), cingulum (CG), and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). The averaged FA value of each WM fibre was measured and summarized as the mean +/- standard deviation (SD). All data were analysed by paired Student's t-test. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Visual investigation of WM fibre tracts showed that the ICAL, brainstem CST, ML, MCP, and external capsule (EC) was similar in controls and subjects. However, the ICPL, AF, PTR, CR, CG, SLF and corpus callosum, were all attenuated in size. All 12 cases of PVL showed a significant mean FA reduction in the ICPL, AF, PTR, CR, CG, SLF, SCC, and GCC in comparison with the ipsilateral regions of healthy controls (p<0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences of the ICAL, ML, MCP, and brainstem CST when analysed using a two-tailed Student's t-test for paired data (p>0.01). CONCLUSION: DTI can provide more information for understanding the pathophysiology of motor disability and associated sensory handicap in PVL.     

多发性硬化的正常表现脑白质的DTI定量

目的：应用磁共振弥散张量成像（DTI）技术，定量研究多发性硬化（MS）患者在常规磁共振上表现正常的脑白质（NAWM），以及探讨其相关的微观病理改变。材料和方法：采用3．0T磁共振仪，对34例Ms患者和25例性别年龄相匹配的正常志愿者均进行DTI检查。分别测量MS组和对照组的9个不同部位脑白质的平均弥散率（MD）和部分各向异性指数（FA值），这9个部位包括胼胝体膝部、体部、压部、内囊后肢、侧脑室旁白质、额叶白质、顶叶白质、枕叶白质以及小脑中脚。比较两组NAWM之间的MD和FA值是否存在差异。结果：MS组的NAWM的MD值均高于对照组（P〈0．05），以胼胝体体部、内囊、侧脑室旁及额叶白质、顶叶白质、枕叶白质更为显著（P〈0．01）；MS组的FA值与对照组比较，胼胝体体部、顶叶白质、额叶白质、枕叶白质及内囊、侧脑室旁发现明显降低（P〈0．05），以后4个部位更为显著（P〈0．01），而胼胝体膝部、压部和小脑结合臂有降低趋势，但无统计学意义。结论：应用DTI定量研究可以探测到多发性硬化的NAWM所出现的微观病理改变，表现为水分子的平均弥散幅度明显升高，以幕上明显，并且胼胝体体部、内囊后肢等白质纤维明显失去正常的方向性。DTI在对白质损伤程度的量化评估中具有重要的价值。     

Voxel-based morphometry and diffusion-tensor MR imaging of the brain in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia

The aims of this study were to detect morphological changes in neuroanatomical components in adult survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) can be used to detect subtle structural changes in brain morphology and via analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) can non-invasively probe white matter (WM) integrity. We used VBM and DTI to examine 20 long-term survivors of ALL and 21 healthy matched controls. Ten ALL survivors received chemotherapy and irradiation; ten survivors received chemotherapy alone during childhood. Imaging was performed on a 3.0-T MRI. For VBM, group comparisons of segmented T1-weighted grey matter (GM) and WM images from controls and ALL survivors were performed separately for patients who received chemotherapy alone and who received chemotherapy and irradiation. For DTI, FA in WM was compared for the same groups. Survivors of childhood ALL who underwent cranial irradiation during childhood had smaller WM volumes and reduced GM concentration within the caudate nucleus and thalamus. The FA in WM was reduced in adult survivors of ALL but the effect was more severe after combined treatment with irradiation and chemotherapy. Our results indicate that DTI and VBM can reveal persistent long-term WM and caudate changes in children after ALL treatment, even without T2 changes in conventional imaging. L. Porto and C. Preibisch contributed equally to this study     

磁敏感加权成像在脑外伤中的应用

目的:评价高分辨率的磁敏感加权成像(SWI)技术检测脑外伤患者中出血性病灶的能力.方法:34例成年脑外伤患者,根据临床格拉斯哥昏迷评分(GCS)分为轻度及中重度脑外伤.所有的患者行CT、常规MRI及弥散张量成像(DTI)和SWI检查,分别检测各方法所示患者脑内出血灶数量.结果:SWI共显示1040个出血灶,较常规序列及DTI显示更多,差异有明显统计学意义.SWI病灶数与GCS评分有明显相关性(r=-0.533,P=0.001).结论:SWI较常规MRI及DTI能检测出更多及更小的出血灶,可以进一步提高对弥漫性轴索损伤(DAI)的诊断,帮助临床医生早期诊断、治疗、治疗监测及评估预后情况.     

复发-缓解型多发性硬化联络纤维定量DTI改变

目的探讨复发-缓解型多发性硬化(RRMS)患者联络纤维定量扩散张量成像(DTI)改变。资料与方法选择低病灶负荷RRMS患者20例,年龄和性别相匹配的健康自愿者20名为对照进行MRI扫描,获取常规MRI图像和DTI图像,分别进行测量分析,比较RRMS患者和健康对照组联络纤维主要纤维束:上枕-额束、下枕-额束、钩束、下纵束、上纵束的部分各向异性指数(FA)值和平均扩散系数(MD)值的变化。结果 RRMS组患者钩束(L:F=5.498,P=0.024;R:F=5.158,P=0.029)、下纵束(L:F=8.267,P=0.007;R:F=5.108,P=0.03)、胼胝体/下枕-额束伴行部分(L:F=5.669,P=0.022;R:F=7.162,P=0.011)、下枕-额束/下纵束伴行部分(L:F=4.521,P=0.04;R:F=5.437,P=0.025)的FA值较健康对照组低,差异有统计学意义;RRMS组患者下纵束(L:F=5.012,P=0.031;R:F=5.48,P=0.025)、下枕-额束/下纵束伴行部分(L:F=8.318,P=0.006;R:F=12.882,P=0.00094)、胼胝体/下枕...     

Correlation of diffusion tensor imaging findings and episodic memory impairment in temporal lobe epilepsy

Purpose

Our aim was to evaluate the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in exploration of white matter tracts microstructure changes and clarify their relation to episodic memory in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

弥漫性轴索损伤患者胼胝体DTI纵向评估

目的 评价亚急性期弥漫性轴索损伤(DAI)患者胼胝体各亚区域微观结构及其短期变化.方法 连续性纳入亚急性期DAI患者21例,其中12例于1月后(31.5 d±6.2 d,28~43 d)复查,招募12例性别、年龄匹配的健康对照组,所有受试者使用3.0T磁共振仪扫描获取脑部DTI数据.在矢状位各向异性分数(FA)图将胼胝体分为6个亚区域(胼胝体膝部、体嘴部、体前部、体后部、峡部及压部)计算FA值、表观扩散系数(ADC)值,分析亚急性期和随访患者胼胝体DTI参数变化,并将亚急性期患者胼胝体各亚区域DTI参数与入院时格拉斯哥(GCS)评分做相关分析.结果 亚急性期患者整个胼胝体及所有亚区域FA值显著降低,除胼胝体体前部、体后部外其余亚区域ADC值均显著升高(P<0.05),其中胼胝体峡部FA值下降幅度最大(-12.0%).12例随访患者整个胼胝体及各亚区域FA值和ADC值变化均无统计学意义(P>0.05).亚急性期患者整个胼胝体、峡部及压部FA值与入院时GCS评分呈正相关(整个胼胝体:r=0.848,P=0.000;峡部:r=0.447,P=0.048;压部:r=0.591,P=0.006).结论 胼胝体峡部是DAI最易损伤的部位;短期内(1个月)胼胝体亚区域微观结构无显著变化;亚急性期DAI患者整个胼胝体FA值能较好反映DAI患者损伤程度.     

A preliminary diffusional kurtosis imaging study of Parkinson disease: comparison with conventional diffusion tensor imaging

Introduction

Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is a more sensitive technique than conventional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) for assessing tissue microstructure. In particular, it quantifies the microstructural integrity of white matter, even in the presence of crossing fibers. The aim of this preliminary study was to compare how DKI and DTI show white matter alterations in Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods

DKI scans were obtained with a 3-T magnetic resonance imager from 12 patients with PD and 10 healthy controls matched by age and sex. Tract-based spatial statistics were used to compare the mean kurtosis (MK), mean diffusivity (MD), and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of the PD patient group and the control group. In addition, a region-of-interest analysis was performed for the area of the posterior corona radiata and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) fiber crossing.

Results

FA values in the frontal white matter were significantly lower in PD patients than in healthy controls. Reductions in MK occurred more extensively throughout the brain: in addition to frontal white matter, MK was lower in the parietal, occipital, and right temporal white matter. The MK value of the area of the posterior corona radiata and SLF fiber crossing was also lower in the PD group.

Conclusion

DKI detects changes in the cerebral white matter of PD patients more sensitively than conventional DTI. In addition, DKI is useful for evaluating crossing fibers. By providing a sensitive index of brain pathology in PD, DKI may enable improved monitoring of disease progression.     

Micro-structural white matter abnormalities in type 2 diabetic patients: a DTI study using TBSS analysis

Introduction

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have usually been found cognitive impairment associated with brain white matter (WM) abnormalities. However, findings have varied across studies, and any potential relationship with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the whole-brain WM integrity of T2DM patients and to compare our findings with those of published AD cases.

Methods

In this study, we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) combined with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to investigate whole-brain WM abnormalities in 48 T2DM patients and 48 healthy controls. The effects of age and gender were also evaluated.

Results

In our study, significantly decreasing FA and increasing MD and DA values (P<0.05) were found in some WM regions closely related to the default mode network (DMN), including cingulum, the right frontal lobe involving the right uncinate fasciculus (UF), bilateral parietal lobes involving the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF), and the right middle temporal gyrus (MTG) involving the UF and the ILF. We also found abnormalities in the thalamus involving the fornix (FX), anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and posterior thalamic radiation (PTR). The damaged regions above are similar to those found in patients with AD, as reported in previous studies.

Conclusion

The present study not only provides useful information about the WM regions and tracts affected by T2DM but also offers insight into the underlying neuropathological process in T2DM patients and the relationship between T2DM and AD.

     

Quantitative fiber tracking in the corpus callosum and internal capsule reveals microstructural abnormalities in preterm infants at term-equivalent age

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:Signal-intensity abnormalities in the PLIC and thinning of the CC are often seen in preterm infants and associated with poor outcome. DTI is able to detect subtle abnormalities. We used FT to select bundles of interest (CC and PLIC) to acquire additional information on the WMI.MATERIALS AND METHODS:One hundred twenty preterm infants born at <31 weeks'' gestation with 3T DTI at TEA entered this prospective study. Quantitative information (ie, volume, length, anisotropy, and MD) was obtained from fiber bundles passing through the PLIC and CC. A general linear model was used to assess the effects of factor (sex) and variables (GA, BW, HC, PMA, and WMI) on FT-segmented parameters.RESULTS:Seventy-two CC and 85 PLIC fiber bundles were assessed. For the CC, increasing WMI and decreasing FA (P = .038), bundle volume (P < .001), and length (P = .001) were observed, whereas MD increased (P = .001). For PLIC, MD increased with increasing WMI (P = .002). Higher anisotropy and larger bundle length were observed in the left PLIC compared with the right (P = .003, P = .018).CONCLUSIONS:We have shown that in the CC bundle, anisotropy was decreased and diffusivity was increased in infants with high WMI scores. A relation of PLIC with WMI was also shown but was less pronounced. Brain maturation is affected more if birth was more premature.

Premature birth of <30 weeks'' gestation is associated with a high risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, including cognitive and motor disabilities.^1–3 The underlying neuropathology for cognitive disabilities is largely unknown, though it has been suggested that disturbances in the WM maturation play a role.^4,5 In teenagers, the effects of preterm birth are associated with thinning of the CC, widening of the ventricles, reduced volumes of the WM, and microstructural changes in the PLIC and the CC.^6–9MR imaging is commonly performed in preterm infants around TEA to detect brain injury. Different scoring systems have been developed to quantify MR imaging findings.^2,10 Although these scoring systems were related to outcome, they did not provide information about the pathology on a microstructural level. WM maturation may best be followed with DTI because this technique uses both information on the diffusion properties of water molecules that are restricted in tissue and information on the direction of diffusion (anisotropy). DTI has been shown to be sensitive to microstructural WM changes, like myelination.^11,12 Most information concerning DTI changes in relation to brain maturation is available from studies assessing selected ROIs in the WM.¹¹ It has been shown that the anisotropy in preterm infants is decreased at TEA in certain brain regions (among these, the CC and the frontal WM) compared with term-born controls.¹³Instead of measuring local effects in selected ROIs, FT can be applied to measure changes in bundles of WM. FT is a 3D visualization technique that reconstructs the underlying linear structure defined by the diffusion tensor.¹⁴ Quantification of WM tracts in infants has been performed previously^15–23 and is based on calculating an average of a certain DTI parameter over the complete bundle. Axial and radial diffusivity over specific tracts have been shown to be differentially affected by bundle maturation with age,^20,21 and DTI parameters quantifying the corticospinal tract are affected in preterm infants with WMI.²² Only 1 study recently investigated the genu and splenium of the CC in premature infants at TEA by using FT.²³ The CC is of interest because reduced callosal volumes have been shown to correlate with motor function and cognitive impairment.^24,25The aim of our study was to investigate whether diffusion tensor parameters, abstracted by using FT to select complete CC and PLIC bundles, display WM abnormalities in the premature infant at TEA. The WMI score² (as measured with conventional MR imaging) was used as a reference index.We hypothesized that WMI would be better detected with DTI and that it would give more information on the microstructure. We investigated, furthermore, how the DTI parameters were affected by GA at birth, BW, HC, sex, and the PMA, defined here as the age at the time of scanning.     

In vivo DTI evaluation of white matter tracts in rat spinal cord

PURPOSE: To determine whether differences in specific spinal cord white matter (WM) tracts can be detected with in vivo DTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vivo DTI was performed on six rats at the lower thoracic region using a 4.7T magnet. Axial diffusion images were obtained with diffusion gradients applied in six independent directions, with low and high b-values equal to 0 and 692 seconds/mm(2), respectively. Regions of interest (ROIs) were selected corresponding to the major spinal cord tracts, including the dorsal cortical spinal tract (dCST), fasciculus gracilis (FG), rubrospinal tract (RST), vestibulospinal tract (VST), and reticulospinal tract (ReST). RESULTS: ANOVA demonstrated overall differences between tracts for all of the DTI parameters, including fractional anisotropy (FA), trace diffusion (Tr), longitudinal diffusivity (EL = lambda(1)), and transverse diffusivity (ET = (lambda(2) + lambda(3))/2). Similarly to previous ex vivo analyses, the spinal cord tract with the largest and most widely spaced axons (VST) had the largest EL and ET. CONCLUSION: The principal diffusivities appear to reflect axon morphologic differences between the WM tracts that are not as well appreciated with FA and Tr.     

Potential of diffusion tensor MR imaging in the assessment of cognitive impairments in children with periventricular leukomalacia born preterm

Purpose

To investigate MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and fiber tractography (FT) in the assessment of altered major white matter fibers correlated with cognitive functions in preterm infants with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), to explore the neural foundation for PVL children's cognitive impairments.

Materials and methods

Forty six preterm infants (16 ± 4.7 months) suffered from PVL and 16 age-matched normal controls were recruited. Developmental quotient (DQ) was recorded to evaluate PVL children's cognitive functions. According to the DQ scores, patients were divided into three groups: mild, moderate and severe cognitive impairment groups. DTI scan was performed. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values of major white matter fibers were measured and their correlation with cognitive levels was evaluated.

Results

Compared with the control group, the PVL group showed a significant mean FA reduction in bilateral corticospinal tract (CST), anterior/posterior limb of internal capsule (ICAL/ICPL), arcuate fasciculus (AF), corona radiate (CR), superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), splenium of corpus callosum (SCC) (p < 0.05) and bilateral posterior thalamic radiation (PTR) (p < 0.01). The FA values of left CST, bilateral AF, anterior cingulum (ACG), SLF, ICAL, ICPL, PTR, CR, genu of corpus callosum (GCC), SCC and middle cerebellar peduncle showed significant negative correlations with the cognitive levels.

Conclusions

DTI can provide more information for understanding the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in preterm infants with PVL.     

阿尔茨海默病患者脑白质束铁沉积的磁共振相位成像

目的：利用磁共振相位成像和扩散张量成像(DTI)技术,探讨阿尔茨海默病(AD)患者的脑白质束损伤与相应白质束铁沉积的相关性。方法：对25例AD患者及20例年龄相匹配的健康老年志愿者进行MR扩散张量成像及相位成像。DTI数据经后处理生成平均扩散系数(MD)和部分各向异性(FA)图,分别测量穹窿、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部、双...     

Measuring fractional anisotropy of the corpus callosum using diffusion tensor imaging: mid-sagittal versus axial imaging planes

OBJECTIVE: Many diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies of the corpus callosum (CC) have been performed with a relatively thick slice thickness in the axial plane, which may result in underestimating the fractional anisotropy (FA) of the CC due to a partial volume effect. We hypothesized that the FA of the CC can be more accurately measured by using mid-sagittal DTI. We compared the FA values of the CC between the axial and mid-sagittal DTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen healthy volunteers underwent MRI at 3.0 T. DTI was performed in both the mid-sagittal and axial planes. One 5-mm mid-sagittal image and twenty-five 2-mm axial images were obtained for the CC. The five regions of interest (ROIs) that included the prefrontal (I), premotor and supplementary motor (II), motor (III), sensory (IV) and parietal, temporal and occipital regions (V) were drawn along the border of the CC on each sagittal FA map. The FA values obtained from each region were compared between the two sagittal maps. RESULTS: The FA values of all the regions, except for region V, were significantly increased on the mid-sagittal imaging. The FA values in region IV were significantly underestimated on the mid-sagittal image from the axial imaging, compared with those in the regions I and V (p = 0.037 and p = 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The FA values of the CC were significantly higher on the mid-sagittal DTI than those on the axial DTI in regions I-IV, and particularly in the region IV. Mid-sagittal DTI may provide more accurate FA values of the CC than can the axial DTI, and mid-sagittal DTI may be more desirable for studies that compare between patients and healthy subjects.     

Diffusion tensor fractional anisotropy of the normal-appearing seven segments of the corpus callosum in healthy adults and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients

PURPOSE: To investigate the utility of whole-brain diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in elucidating the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) using the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of the corpus callosum (CC) as a marker of occult disease activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and optimized entire brain DTI data were acquired in 26 clinically-definite relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients and 32 age-matched healthy adult controls. The fractional anisotropy (FA) values of seven functionally distinct regions in the normal-appearing CC were compared between patients and controls. RESULTS: This study indicates that 1) there was a gender-independent FA heterogeneity of the functionally specialized CC segments in normal volunteers; 2) FA in the MS group was significantly decreased in the anterior (P=0.0039) and posterior (P=0.0018) midbody subdivisions of the CC, possibly due to a reduction of small-caliber axons; and 3) the FA of the genu of the CC was relatively intact in the MS patients compared to the healthy age-matched controls (P=0.644), while the splenium showed an insignificant trend of reduced FA values (P=0.248). The decrease in FA in any of the CC subdivisions did not correlate with disease duration (DD) or the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results are consistent with published histopathology and clinical studies on MS, but not with some published DTI reports. This study provides insights into the pathogenesis of MS, and the role played by compromised axonal integrity in this disease.     

Cerebral white matter damage in frontotemporal dementia assessed by diffusion tensor tractography

INTRODUCTION: We used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study white matter integrity in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). METHODS: The subjects comprised 20 patients (9 men, 11 women) with FTD and 17 age-matched healthy controls (9 men, 8 women). Based on the data obtained from DTI, we performed tractography of the major cerebral pathways, including the pyramidal tracts, genu and splenium of the corpus callosum (CC), bilateral arcuate fasciculi (AF), inferior longitudinal fasciculi (ILF) and uncinate fasciculi (UF). We measured the values of fractional anisotropy (FA) in each fiber and statistically compared the findings in patients with those in controls. RESULTS: We found a significant decrease in FA values in the selected association fibers as well as anterior fibers of the CC in the patients with FTD. The greatest decrease in mean FA of the UF was seen in advanced FTD. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in FA in the bilateral pyramidal tracts. CONCLUSION: The features of FTD from the view point of cerebral white matter damage were revealed by tractography based on DTI. DTI is therefore considered to be a useful method, and may provide clues to elucidating the pathogenesis of FTD.     

The superior longitudinal fasciculus and speech arrest

We present a 59-year-old woman with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme involving the left medial frontal and cingulate gyri. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) showed inferior-lateral tumor border proximity to the superior-medial (supracallosal) portion of the left frontal superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). Dissections of the tumor border contacting the dominant SLF caused speech arrests 8 times, with full recovery. At postoperative day 2, edema caused transient mild aphasia and paraphasic errors. Postoperative DTI showed an inferior-lateral resection cavity in immediate proximity to the supracallosal aspect of the left SLF. The case demonstrates excellent correlation between tumor border proximity to the dominant SLF shown at DTI and speech deficits caused by intraoperative dissections and postoperative edema. The case is the first to demonstrate speech arrest associated with lesion proximity to the supracallosal aspect of the SLF. Other SLF-related deficits are reviewed.     

Diffusion tensor MR imaging of the cervical spinal cord in patients with multiple sclerosis

Our purpose was to evaluate the ability of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to characterize cervical spinal cord white matter (WM) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). DTI were obtained in 21 MS patients and 21 control subjects (CS). Regions of interest (ROIs) were placed at C2/3, C3/4, and C4/5 within the right, left, and dorsal (WM) to calculate fractional anisotropy (FA) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Measurements in plaques and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of MS patients were compared with mean FA and ADC of WM in CS. FA was significantly lower in all regions in MS patients than in CS. ADC was significantly higher in all regions in MS patients than in CS except for in the dorsal WM at C2/3 and the bilateral WM at C4/5. The mean FA was 0.441 for plaques and 0.542 for NAWM, as compared with 0.739 in CS. The mean ADC was 0.810 × 10⁻³ mm²/s for plaques and 0.722 × 10⁻³ mm²/s for NAWM, as compared with 0.640 ×10⁻³ mm²/s for CS. FA and ADC showed significant differences between plaques, NAWM and control WM(P < 0.01).