正常成人大脑白质纤维磁共振弥散张量成像的定量研究

目的:运用弥散张量成像(DTI)定量研究正常成人脑白质不同解剖部位的各向异性特点.方法:对60名正常成人按年龄分成四组,均行DTI检查,分析其表面弥散系数(ADC)图及各向异性分数(FA)图的特点,并对不同解剖部位的脑白质进行ADC值及FA值的定量分析,通过统计学分析得出其弥散系数和各向异性特点.结果:不同年龄组间相同解剖部位脑白质ADC值及FA值的差异无统计学意义;不同解剖部位间FA值及ADC值的差异具有显著性.结论:DTI可清晰显示脑内白质的走行及方向,FA能准确定量分析正常成人不同部位脑白质纤维的各向异性程度.     

正常青年人群脑磁共振扩散张量成像的定量研究

目的:运用扩散张量成像(DTI)方法研究正常青年人群不同脑组织及解剖部位的各向异性特点.方法:对40名正常青年人群行DTI成像,分析其表面扩散系数(ADC)图及各向异性分数(FA)图的特点,并对不同脑组织进行ADC及FA值的定量分析,通过统计学分析得出其扩散和各向异性特点.结果:扩散系数ADC不能区分脑灰质与脑白质(ADC分别为807.78±90.29,775.79±115.31×10-6mm2/s,P=0.098).而脑脊液、脑灰质与脑白质间的FA值间差异均具有显著性意义(P<0.05).不同解剖部位的脑白质间具有显著不同的各向异性(P<0.05).胼胝体压部的各向异性程度最高(0.73±0.09),其次为胼胝体膝部与内囊后肢(0.68±0.05,0.67±0.06),半卵圆中心与枕钳最低(0.53±0.09,0.53±0.09).脑灰质中以背侧丘脑具有最高的各向异性(0.31±0.04).结论:FA可准确定量正常青年人群不同脑组织的扩散特点,DTI可清晰显示脑内白质的方向及走行.     

年龄对正常成人脑弥散特性影响的初步研究

目的: 探讨年龄因素对正常成人脑组织弥散的影响特点.材料和方法: 对60例不同年龄组正常成人脑进行弥散张量成像,在表观弥散系数图及各向异性系数图上分别测定脑内不同解剖部位的表观弥散系数值和各向异性系数值,并进行统计学分析.结果: 不同年龄组脑内不同解剖部位测得的弥散参数无显著差异.结论: 年龄对正常成人脑组织弥散特性无显著影响.     

年龄对正常成人脑弥散特性影响的初步研究

目的：探讨年龄因素对正常成人脑组织弥散的影响特点。材料和方法：对60例不同年龄组正常成人脑进行弥散张量成像，在表观弥散系数图及各向异性系数图上分别测定脑内不同解剖部位的表观弥散系数值和各向异性系数值．并进行统计学分析。结果：不同年龄组脑内不同解剖部位测得的弥散参数无显著差异。结论：年龄对正常成人脑组织弥散特性无显著影响。     

磁共振弥散张量成像对正常大脑白质纤维束构象的初步研究

目的利用磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)研究正常成人脑内各部位各向异性程度及正常白质纤维束构象特征.方法对25名正常志愿者进行常规MR及DTI序列检查,重建FA图及三维彩色编码张量图.分别在半卵圆中心、基底节区和大脑脚层面测量主要白质束的FA值.结果DTI显示灰质与白质区各向异性存在显著差异,不同部位的白质纤维束各向异性程度亦不相同,且左右两侧基本对称,重建FA图和三维彩色编码张量图可显示白质内大部分主要的白质纤维束.结论DTI可清晰显示脑内白质纤维束的走行及分布,为了解脑功能与白质通路间关系提供了有力研究手段.     

脑高级别星形细胞瘤瘤周DTI参数的测定及分析

目的：应用弥散张量成像（DTI）技术探讨脑高级别星形细胞瘤瘤周弥散各向异性特点。方法：25例脑高级别星形细胞瘤术前行DTI扫描,测定瘤周脑实质区及对侧正常脑实质的平均弥散系数（MD）值及各向异性分数（FA）值。并通过弥散张量纤维束成像（DTT）观察病灶与白质纤维束的关系。结果：高级别星形细胞瘤瘤周MD值为1．610±0．23,高于对侧正常脑实质（P〈0．01）。FA值为0．236±0．06,低于对侧正常脑实质（P〈0．01）。结论：DTI能够准确反应脑星形细胞瘤瘤周各向异性特点,DTT能够较为准确显示病灶与白质纤维束的关系。     

弥散张量成像对颅脑肿瘤与相邻脑白质纤维束解剖关系的评价

目的:评价弥散张量成像技术显示颅脑肿瘤与相邻脑白质纤维束解剖关系的价值。材料和方法:对5例正常志愿者及29例幕上星形细胞瘤及脑膜瘤进行弥散张量成像,在弥散各向异性图、彩色张量图及脑白质纤维束图上分析肿瘤与相邻脑白质纤维束的解剖关系,并对患者术前、术后的临床症状进行评价。结果:(1)9例脑膜瘤及11例Ⅰ-Ⅱ级星形细胞瘤推移相邻脑白质纤维束,患者术后临床症状明显改善。(2)6例Ⅲ-Ⅳ级星形细胞瘤及3例Ⅰ-Ⅱ级星形细胞瘤浸润、破坏相邻脑白质纤维束,患者术后的临床症状未明显改善。结论:弥散张量成像技术在显示颅脑肿瘤与相邻脑内主要白质纤维束的解剖关系方面具有重要价值,对神经外科术前治疗方案的确定具有重要指导作用。     

磁共振扩散张量成像对正常人脑结构的显示及各向异性研究

目的 探讨不同脑组织结构在扩散张量成像（DTI）中的信号特点及各向异性。资料与方法 对20名正常人行DTI,分析其平均扩散系数（ADC）图及部分各向异性（FA）图的特点,并对不同感兴趣区（ROI）进行ADC及FA值的测量,通过统计学分析得出其扩散和各向异性特点。结果男女之间比较,同一部位的ADC及FA值差异均无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,对称结构而言,左右侧的ADC或FA值相比差异也无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。ADC图上脑脊液呈明显的高信号,而其余脑组织呈不同程度的较低信号,且信号差别不大。侧脑室体部内的脑脊液与其他ROIADC值相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）,而其余ROI之间的ADC值则无差异（P〉0．05）。FA图可以清晰反映脑白质纤维,呈明显的高信号。不同白质纤维的FA值不一致,胼胝体压部的FA值最大,并与胼胝体膝部差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。与其他测量结构差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。脑白质的各向异性按胼胝体、内囊、半卵圆中心、外囊逐渐降低。侧脑室体部内脑脊液的FA值最低。结论 不同部位脑组织的各向异性及信号不同。ADC图主要体现脑脊液与其他脑组织的差异,而FA图可以清晰显示脑内的白质纤维,并能定量反映不同部位各向异性的特征。     

白血病脑实质浸润的弥散张量成像应用研究

目的探讨1．5T磁共振弥散张量成像（diffusiontensorimaging,DTI）,部分各向异性（fractionalanisotropy,FA）和表观扩散系数（apparentdiffusioncoefficient,ADC）及弥散张量纤维束成像（diffusiontensortractography,DTT）在成人白血病脑实质浸润的应用价值。方法回顾性分析经临床证实的8例白血病脑实质浸润病例DTI之ADC、FA参数图,分别测量病变、水肿及健侧相应部位FA值和ADC值;观察各例在DTT图的变化。结果白血病脑实质浸润的肿瘤实质部分FA值8例全部较健侧降低,ADC值5例减低,3例增高;周围水肿区FA值全部降低,ADC值全部增高;脑白质纤维束DTT显示有中断、移位、浸润。结论DTI对脑侵犯神经纤维束损伤具有独特诊断价值;DTI的参数变化能够量化神经纤维受压后微细结构的变化,DTT图像重建能直观显示脑白质纤维束的完整性及损伤程度,DTI联合DTT可更加准确地评估白血病脑侵犯的损害程度。     

DTI技术在全视路病变中的应用研究进展

目的扩散张量成像(diffusion tenser imaging,DTI)是利用组织内水分子弥散运动在不同方向上存在各向异性,致信号差异而成像的一种磁共振功能成像技术,是目前可在活体内研究脑白质神经纤维束的唯一一种无创性检查技术,可立体直观显示并测量组织微观结构。DTI技术不仅可以显示纤维束走行结构特征,还可以进行量化分析,反映神经纤维轴索及髓鞘的病理改变。因此,DTI技术为视路疾病的显示、诊断和治疗提供了新的研究方法及有力依据。     

Conventional DTI vs. slow and fast diffusion tensors in cat visual cortex.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) uses water diffusion anisotropy in axonal fibers to provide a tool for analyzing and tracking those fibers in brain white matter. In the present work, multidirectional diffusion MRI data were collected from a cat brain and decomposed into slow and fast diffusion tensors and directly compared with conventional DTI data from the same imaging slice. The fractional anisotropy of the slow diffusing component (D(slow)) was significantly higher than the anisotropy measured by conventional DTI while reflecting a similar directionality and appeared to account for most of the anisotropy observed in gray matter, where the fiber density is notoriously low. Preliminary results of fiber tracking based on the slow diffusion component are shown. Fibers generated based on the slow diffusion component appear to follow the vertical fibers in gray matter. D(slow)TI may provide a way for increasing the sensitivity to anisotropic structures in cortical gray matter.     

脑缺血性卒中MR扩散张量成像的初步研究

目的利用磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI)及扩散张量纤维束成像(DTT)评价缺血性脑卒中所致皮质脊髓束(CST)损伤程度与运动功能的关系。方法对9例急性期大脑中动脉供血区缺血性脑卒中病人进行常规MR、DTI和DTT检查,对数据进行离线后处理,采用dTV.II软件处理,获得FA图及方向编码彩色图,并重建双侧皮质脊髓束3D纤维束图。对梗死区及健侧相应区域白质进行FA测量。采用Brunnstorm标准判断脑卒中患者患手肌力。结果在脑卒中病人梗死区FA值显著低于健侧,两侧相比差异有显著统计学意义(t=4.570,P<0.001)。病变侧皮质脊髓束表现为受压、变形、移位和中断,皮质脊髓束受累情况与肌力和运动功能的恢复有良好的相关性(rs=0.888,P<0.05)。结论CST损伤严重程度与运动功能的恢复相关,DTI和DTT对观察CST的损害程度、预测恢复程度、指导临床康复治疗具有重要的价值。     

Diffusion tensor imaging of in vivo and excised rat spinal cord at 7 T with an icosahedral encoding scheme.

Regional values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (D(av)) of in vivo and excised rat spinal cords were measured using an iscosahedral encoding scheme that is based on 21 uniformly distributed and alternating gradient directions with an echo planar imaging (EPI) readout. Based on the water phantom studies, this scheme was shown to provide unbiased estimation of FA. The stability of the scanner during the acquisition of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data was evaluated. Repeated measurements of the FA values demonstrated excellent reproducibility, as assessed by the Bland-Altman analysis. These studies demonstrated a reduced anisotropy in excised samples relative to in vivo cords. Diffusion in the spinal cord gray matter was shown to be anisotropic. The FA value in the dorsal white matter (WM) was found to be higher relative to the ventral WM. Results from these studies should provide the necessary baseline data for serial in vivo DTI of injured spinal cord.     

Relative indices of water diffusion anisotropy are equivalent in live and formalin-fixed mouse brains.

Formalin fixation of tissue is a common laboratory practice. A direct comparison of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters from mouse brains before (in vivo) and after (ex vivo) formalin fixation is reported herein. Five diffusion indices were examined in a cohort of seven mice: relative anisotropy (RA), directional correlation (DC), trace (Tr(D)), trace-normalized axial diffusivity (D(axially)), and radial diffusivity (D(radially)). Seven regions of interest (ROIs), including five in white matter and two in gray matter, were selected for examination. Consistent with previous findings, a significant decrease of Tr(D) was observed for all ROIs after fixation. However, water diffusion anisotropy, as defined by the indices RA, DC, D(axially), and D(radially), remained unchanged after fixation. Thus, fixation does not appear to alter diffusion anisotropy in the mouse brain. This finding supports the utility of diffusion anisotropy analysis of fixed tissue. The combination of DTI measurements and standard histology may shed light on the microstructural determinants of diffusion anisotropy in normal and disease states.     

Tissue signature characterisation of diffusion tensor abnormalities in cerebral gliomas

The inherent invasiveness of malignant cells is a major determinant of the poor prognosis of cerebral gliomas. Diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) can identify white matter abnormalities in gliomas that are not seen on conventional imaging. By breaking down DTI into its isotropic (p) and anisotropic (q) components, we can determine tissue diffusion signatures. In this study we have characterised these abnormalities in peritumoural white matter tracts. Thirty-five patients with cerebral gliomas and seven normal volunteers were imaged with DTI and T2-weighted sequences at 3 T. Displaced, infiltrated and disrupted white matter tracts were identified using fractional anisotropy (FA) maps and directionally encoded colour maps and characterised using tissue signatures. The diffusion tissue signatures were normal in ROIs where the white matter was displaced. Infiltrated white matter was characterised by an increase in the isotropic component of the tensor (p) and a less marked reduction of the anisotropic component (q). In disrupted white matter tracts, there was a marked reduction in q and increase in p. The direction of water diffusion was grossly abnormal in these cases. Diffusion tissue signatures may be a useful method of assessing occult white matter infiltration.     

Gray and white matter delineation in the human spinal cord using diffusion tensor imaging and fuzzy logic

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been used extensively in determining morphology and connectivity of the brain; however, similar analysis in the spinal cord has proven difficult. The objective of this study was to improve the delineation of gray and white matter in the spinal cord by applying signal processing techniques to the eigenvalues of the diffusion tensor. Our approach involved creating anisotropy indices based on the difference between eigenvalues and mean diffusivity then using a fuzzy inference system (FIS) to delineate between gray and white matter in the human cervical spinal cord. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DTI was performed on the cervical spinal cord in five neurologically intact subjects. Distributions were extracted for regions of gray and white matter through the use of a digitized histologic template. Fuzzy membership functions were created based on these distributions. Detectability index and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed on traditional DTI indices and FIS classified regions. RESULTS: A significantly higher contrast between gray and white matter was observed using fuzzy classification compared with traditionally used DTI indices based on the detectability index (P < .001) and trends in the ROC analysis. Reconstructed images from the FIS qualitatively showed a better anatomical representation of the spinal cord compared with traditionally used DTI indices. CONCLUSIONS: Diffusion tensor imaging using an FIS for tissue classification provides high contrast between spinal gray and white matter compared with traditional DTI indices and may provide a noninvasive technique to quantify the integrity and morphology of the human spinal cord following injury.     

Diffusion tensor mode in imaging of intracranial epidermoid cysts: one step ahead of fractional anisotropy

INTRODUCTION: The signal characteristics of an epidermoid on T2-weighted imaging have been attributed to the presence of increased water content within the tumor. In this study, we explore the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor metrics (DTM) in knowing the microstructural anatomy of epidermoid cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DTI was performed in ten patients with epidermoid cysts. Directionally averaged mean diffusivity (D (av)), exponential diffusion, and DTM-like fractional anisotropy (FA), diffusion tensor mode (mode), linear (CL), planar (CP), and spherical (CS) anisotropy were measured from the tumor as well as from the normal-looking white matter. RESULTS: Epidermoid cysts showed high FA. However, D (av) and exponential diffusion values did not show any restriction of diffusion. Diffusion tensor mode values were near -1, and CP values were high within the tumor. This suggested preferential diffusion of water molecules along a two-dimensional geometry (plane) in epidermoid cysts, which could be attributed to the parallel-layered arrangement of keratin filaments and flakes within these tumors. CONCLUSION: Thus, advanced imaging modalities like DTI with DTM can provide information regarding the microstructural anatomy of the epidermoid cysts.