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.     

无痴呆的血管性认知损害全脑DTI直方图分析

目的:利用磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI)直方图分析,明确无痴呆的血管性认知损害(VCIND)患者的脑异常改变及DTI直方图指标与简易智能量表(MMSE)的相关性。方法:对13例VCIND患者和13例健康志愿者行常规MRI和DTI检查,获得全脑平均扩散率(MD)和各向异性分数(FA)图像后,分别绘制出全脑MD和FA直方图并对其进行分析。结果:与正常对照组比较,VCIND患者平均全脑FA直方图示峰位置左移,平均FA值降低(P=0.002),峰高增高(P=0.034),MD直方图明显右移、平均MD值增高(P=0.014),峰高降低(P=0.002),峰位置右移(P=0.004)。各项指标与MMSE评分均无显著相关性。结论:VCIND患者存在脑扩散异常,全脑DTI直方图分析有助于本病的诊断。     

Diffusion tensor imaging in multiple sclerosis: assessment of regional differences in the axial plane within normal-appearing cervical spinal cord

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evaluation of the spinal cord is important in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with multiple sclerosis. Our purpose was to investigate diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) changes in different regions of normal-appearing spinal cord (NASC) in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). METHODS: Axial DTI of the cervical spinal cord was performed in 24 patients with RRMS and 24 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were calculated in separate regions of interest (ROIs) in the anterior, lateral, and posterior spinal cord, bilaterally, and the central spinal cord, at the C2-C3 level. Patients and control subjects were compared with respect to FA and MD with the use of an exact Mann-Whitney test. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the utility of each measure for the diagnosis of RRMS. RESULTS: DTI metrics in areas of NASC in MS were significantly different in patients compared with control subjects; FA was lower in the lateral (mean +/- SD of 0.56 +/- 0.10 versus 0.69 +/- 0.09 in control subjects, P < .0001), posterior (0.52 +/- 0.11 versus 0.63 +/- 0.10, P < .0001), and central (0.53 +/- 0.10 versus 0.58 +/- 0.10, P = .049) NASC ROIs. Assessing DTI metrics in the diagnosis of MS, a sensitivity of 87.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66.4 to 97.1) and a specificity of 91.7% (95% CI, 73.0 to 98.7) were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The NASC in RRMS demonstrates DTI changes. This may prove useful in detecting occult spinal cord pathology, predicting clinical course, and monitoring disease progression and therapeutic effect in MS.     

Focal Wallerian degeneration of the corpus callosum in large middle cerebral artery stroke: serial diffusion tensor imaging

PURPOSE: To detect lesion-related focal Wallerian degeneration (WD) changes in different segments of the corpus callosum (CC) in patients with large middle cerebral arterial (MCA) territory stroke using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients underwent DTI scans at three different time points: six to eight weeks, 10-12 weeks, and beyond six months of stroke onset. Eight healthy age-matched controls were also scanned using the same protocol at three different time points. Region-of-interest (ROI) analysis was performed on seven segments of the CC to determine the fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and corresponding callosal cross-sectional areas. RESULTS: On repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), a significant reduction in the FA values was observed from the first to the third study compared to controls, reflecting temporal degeneration in the rostrum, genu, rostral body, anterior midbody, and splenium of the CC. However, a significant temporal elevation in MD values was observed in only the rostral body and anterior midbody of the CC. This was associated with a significant region-specific reduction in the cross-sectional areas at time points beyond six months, and appears to be consistent with the loss of callosal structural components due to interruption of the cortico-callosal fibers secondary to WD. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that cortico-callosal topographical changes exhibit a significant temporal decline in observed FA values that is suggestive of cortico-callosal WD in patients with large MCA territory stroke.     

1HMR波谱联合扩散张量成像在海洛因中毒性脑损伤中的价值

目的 探讨HMR波谱(HMRS)及扩散张量成像(DTI)联合应用在显示海洛因中毒性脑损伤中的价值.方法 对7例海洛因依赖患者(吸毒组)及8名健康志愿者(对照组)行MR、HMRS及DTI检查.HMRS感兴趣区选在前额叶,分别测量灰质及白质中乙酰天冬氨酸(NAA)/肌酸(Cr)、胆碱(Cho)/Cr及Cho/NAA的比值.DTI感兴趣区选在胼胝体膝部(GCC)、胼胝体压部(SCC)、内囊前肢(AIC)、内囊后肢(PIC)、外囊(Ec)及前额叶白质(WMPFL),并分别测量其各向异性分数(FA)及表观扩散系数(ADC).2组间比较采用独立样本t检验.结果 所有受检者MRI均未见明显异常.IHMRS吸毒组前额叶灰质及白质中NAA/Cr比值降低,分别为1.40±0.16、1.72±0.41,对照组分别为1.57±0.09、2.08±0.21,2组差异有统计学意义(t值分别为2.183、2.190,P值均<0.05).DTI吸毒组GCC、SCC及AIC的FA值降低,分别为0.70±0.04、0.76±0.41、0.55±0.03,对照组分别为0.76±0.03、0.82±0.03、0.64±0.03,2组差异有统计学意义(t值分别为3.830、3.713、5.555,P值均<0.05);吸毒组SCC、PIC及EC的ADC值升高,分别为(8.18±0.48)×10-4(7.54±0.22)×10-4(7.72±0.30)× 10-4mm2/s,对照组分别为(7.50±0.26)×10-4、(7.15±0.20)×10-4(7.19±0.39)×10-4mm2/s,2组差异有统计学意义(t值分别为3.477、3.507、2.895,P值均<0.05).结论 联合HMRS及DTI技术可较全面地显示海洛因中毒性脑损伤早期脑灰白质改变情况.     

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...     

Relationships of brain white matter microstructure with clinical and MR measures in relapsing‐remitting multiple sclerosis

Purpose:

To assess the relationships of microstructural damage in the cerebral white matter (WM), as measured by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), with clinical parameters and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of focal tissue damage in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Materials and Methods:

Forty‐five relapsing‐remitting (RR) MS patients (12 male, 33 female; median age = 29 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) = 1.5, disease duration = 3 years) were studied. T2‐lesion masks were created and voxelwise DTI analyses performed with Tract‐Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS).

Results:

T2‐lesion volume (T2‐LV) was significantly (P < 0.05, corrected) correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in both lesions and normal‐appearing WM (NAWM). Relationships (P = 0.08, corrected) between increasing EDSS score and decreasing FA were found in the splenium of the corpus callosum (sCC) and along the pyramidal tract (PY). All FA associations were driven by changes in the perpendicular (to primary tract direction) diffusivity. No significant global and voxelwise FA changes were found over a 2‐year follow‐up.

Conclusion:

FA changes related to clinical disability in RR‐MS patients with minor clinical disability are localized to specific WM tracts such as the sCC and PY and are driven by changes in perpendicular diffusivity both within lesions and NAWM. Longitudinal DTI measurements do not seem able to chart the early disease course in the WM of MS patients. Imaging 2010; 31:309–316. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

血管性认知功能损害的全脑DTI直方图分析

目的利用扩散张量成像(DTI)直方图分析,明确血管性认知损害(VCI)患者的脑异常改变及DTI直方图指标与简易智能量表(MMSE)评分的相关性。方法对19例VCI患者和19例健康志愿者行常规MRI和DTI检查,获得全脑平均扩散率(MD)和各向异性分数(FA)图像后,分别绘制出全脑FA和MD直方图并对其进行分析。结果VCI患者的全脑MD和FA直方图与正常志愿者不同。与正常对照比较,VCI患者平均全脑FA直方图示峰位置左移、平均FA值降低(P=0.008),MD直方图右移、平均MD值增高(P=0.026),峰位置增高(P=0.041),峰高降低(P=0.002)。平均FA值(r=-0.486,P=0.036)、FA峰高(r=0.498,P=0.030)和FA峰位置(r=-0.641,P=0.003)与MMSE评分相关。结论VCI的患者存在脑扩散异常,DTI直方图部分指标可以帮助评价认知功能损害的严重程度。     

早期阿尔茨海默病脑白质改变和认知功能损伤的相关性

目的 探讨早期阿尔茨海默病(AD)脑白质变化与认知功能改变的关系.方法 对14例早期AD患者(AD组)和18名健康老年人(ON组)在1.5 T MR扫描仪上进行扩散张量成像(DTI)扫描.在9个感兴趣区测量并比较各向异性分数(FA)和平均扩散系数((-D)).对2组研究对象进行8个标准的神经心理测试,以评价其基本认知能力状态,并对测试结果 进行比较.分析所有研究对象DTI的FA和(-D)测量结果 与神经心理测试评分的相关性.结果 与ON组相比,AD患者在胼胝体压部(分别为0.25±0.03和0.49±0.03)和后顶-颞叶(分别为0.30±0.02和0.28±0.01)FA降低(t值分别为2.481、1.991,P值均＜0.05)、在胼胝体压部D提高(t=1.751,P＜0.05).在8个神经心理行为测试中,AD患者的评分均低于ON组(t值2.803～4.691,P值均＜0.05).相关性研究结果 显示,AD患者胼胝体压部和后顶-颞叶的FA与多个神经心理测试评分呈正相关(r值0.355～0.499,P值均＜0.05),而在较分散的多个部位(-D)与多个神经心理测试评分呈负相关(r值-0.518～-0.350,P值均＜0.05).结论 在AD早期阶段,患者不仅有认知功能的改变,而且还有白质结构的变化,两者存在一定的相关性,表现为脑白质的选择区域性损害,这种损害反映了AD病理机制中皮质间联系的丢失.     

Short-term evolution of spinal cord damage in multiple sclerosis: a diffusion tensor MRI study

Introduction

The potential of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect spinal cord abnormalities in patients with multiple sclerosis has already been demonstrated. The objective of this study was to apply DTI techniques to multiple sclerosis patients with a recently diagnosed spinal cord lesion, in order to demonstrate a correlation between variations of DTI parameters and clinical outcome, and to try to identify DTI parameters predictive of outcome.

Methods

A prospective single-centre study of patients with spinal cord relapse treated by intravenous steroid therapy was made. Patients were assessed clinically and by conventional MRI with DTI sequences at baseline and at 3?months.

Results

Sixteen patients were recruited. At 3?months, 12 patients were clinically improved. All but one patient had lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values than normal subjects in either inflammatory lesions or normal-appearing spinal cord. Patients who improved at 3?months presented a significant reduction in the radial diffusivity (p?=?0.05) in lesions during the follow-up period. They also had a significant reduction in the mean ADC (p?=?0.002), axial diffusivity (p?=?0.02), radial diffusivity (p?=?0.02) and a significant increase in FA values (p?=?0.02) in normal-appearing spinal cord. Patients in whom the American Spinal Injury Association sensory score improved at 3?months showed a significantly higher FA (p?=?0.009) and lower radial diffusivity (p?=?0.04) in inflammatory lesion at baseline compared to patients with no improvement.

Conclusion

DTI MRI detects more extensive abnormalities than conventional T2 MRI. A less marked decrease in FA value and more marked decreased in radial diffusivity inside the inflammatory lesion were associated with better outcome.     

Preferential occult injury of corpus callosum in multiple sclerosis measured by diffusion tensor imaging

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) assessment of microscopic fiber tract injury in the corpus callosum (CC) and other normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: DTI was performed in 12 healthy volunteers and 15 patients who have relatively short disease duration (mean = 2.7 years). Both fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were obtained in different regions of normal-appearing CC (NACC) and NAWM in frontal and occipital regions. RESULTS: The data showed significantly lower FA (P < 0.001) and higher MD (P < 0.04) for NACC regions, but not for frontal and occipital NAWM regions, in patients than in those in healthy volunteers after Bonferroni adjustment. The increase of MD in the entire NACC regions was correlated with the total cerebral lesion volume (r = 0.75, P = 0.001) in patients. CONCLUSION: The water diffusion changes indicate that in the early phase of disease there is a preferential occult injury of CC, which is likely due to the Wallerian degeneration from distant lesions.     

扩散张量成像对放射性腰腿痛定量分析的价值

目的探讨3.0 T MR扩张张量成像(DTI)及纤维束示踪成像(DTT)的部分各向异性(FA)值对放射性腰腿痛定量分析的价值。方法将40例无症状志愿者(A组)与48例放射性腰腿痛病人(B组)的MRI和临床资料分成4组,分别为无症状有椎间盘突出组(A1组,6例)、无症状无椎间盘突出组(A2组,34例)、有症状有椎间盘突出组(B1组,36例)和有症状无椎间盘突出组(B2组,12例),定量分析L4至S1神经根的平均FA值,采用t检验比较组间神经根的平均FA值的差异;采用ROC曲线分析神经根的FA值诊断椎间盘突出的阈值、敏感度、特异度和曲线下面积(AUC);相关性分析采用Pearson相关。结果 A1组的FA值为0.213±0.003,略低于A2组的0.215±0.009,但组间FA值差异无统计学意义(t=0.628,P0.05);而B1组的FA值为0.190±0.010,明显低于B2组的0.207±0.009(t=5.044,P0.01)。ROC曲线分析显示FA值≤0.197时,诊断椎间盘突出的AUC、敏感度和特异度分别为0.886、70.7%和91.5%。相关分析结果显示神经根FA值与椎间盘突出呈中等负相关(r=-0.652,P0.000 1)。结论 MR DTI及DTT技术的FA值有助于临床对放射性腰腿痛的定量评估。     

Krabbe disease treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: serial assessment of anisotropy measurements--initial experience

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging anisotropy measurements of white matter (WM) regions in early and late treatment groups of Krabbe disease patients treated with stem cell transplantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board and was compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; informed consent was obtained from the families of all patients. Patients with early-onset Krabbe disease (four girls and three boys) underwent diffusion-tensor MR imaging before and after stem cell transplantation. Fractional anisotropy (FA) values from serial studies were compared in patients who underwent transplantation at less than 1 month (early group, two girls and one boy) and those who underwent transplantation at 5-8 months (late group, two girls and two boys). FA values were measured in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, the frontal WM, and the internal capsule; were compared with those of five age-matched children in the comparison group (normal MR images and no proved neurologic disease); and were expressed as a ratio. Images obtained after transplantation were evaluated at approximately 1 (n = 7), 2 (n = 6), 3 (n = 1), and 4 (n = 1) years. RESULTS: Before transplantation, mean FA ratios in the early group for all four WM regions ranged between 97% and 117%. At 1 year, mean FA ratios at all locations were either 92% or 93%. At 2 years after transplantation, mean FA ratios were between 83% and 92%. In one patient imaged at 3 years, the mean FA ratio was 97%; in another patient imaged at 4 years, the mean FA ratio was 77%. Before transplantation, mean FA ratios in the late group ranged between 55% and 74%. Mean FA ratios were between 37% and 50% at 1 year after transplantation and between 36% and 39% at 2 years. CONCLUSION: All patients had decreases in FA ratios over time. The early group had higher initial FA ratios and lower subsequent decreases, which may indicate amelioration of the dysmyelinating process.     

3.0T MR扩散张量成像在脑梗死诊断中的应用

目的：探讨3.0T磁共振扩散张量成像（DTI）对脑梗死的诊断价值。方法：对75例不同时期脑梗死患者进行MRI常规检查、扩散加权成像（DWI）及DTI检查,重建平均扩散系数（DCavg）图及部分各向异性（FA）图。以T2WI与DWI图像为参照,测定各期脑梗死灶及对侧正常脑组织的平均DCavg值、平均FA值,并进行统计学处理。结果：与对侧正常脑组织相比,脑梗死平均DCavg值在超急性期及急性期显著减低（P〈0.01）,随着时间延长呈逐渐恢复升高的变化趋势;脑梗死平均FA值在超急性期无一致性变化,与对侧正常脑组织相比差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,可轻度升高或轻度降低,随着病程进展呈不可恢复持续减低规律。结论：联合DCavg值与FA值可对脑梗死进行更精确的临床分期,有助于及时准确了解脑梗死的病理生理改变,为临床治疗及预后判断提供依据。     

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.     

Assessment of white matter damage in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis using quantitative diffusion tensor MR imaging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare progressive degenerative disease, is caused by persistent infection with a defective measles virus. The correlation between the clinical staging and MR imaging is usually poor. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in the early detection of white matter damage in SSPE in the presence of normal findings on conventional imaging. METHODS: DTI was performed in 21 patients in stage II SSPE and 10 age/sex-matched healthy controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values were calculated in the periventricular white matter, corpus callosum, and posterior limb of the internal capsule in patients with normal and abnormal findings on conventional imaging as well as healthy controls. RESULTS: The patients were grouped into those with normal (n = 11) and abnormal (n = 10) findings on conventional imaging for the purpose of quantitative DTI analysis. Abnormal- and normal-appearing white matter on T2-weighted images showed significantly decreased FA values in all the regions compared with those in healthy controls. MD values were significantly increased in the periventricular white matter region of the frontal and parietooccipital lobe in patients with normal as well as abnormal findings on conventional imaging compared with those in healthy controls. CONCLUSION: DTI detects early white matter abnormalities that may have significant therapeutic implication, even in the presence of normal findings on conventional imaging, in patients with SSPE.     

Correlation of diffusion tensor and dynamic perfusion MR imaging metrics in normal-appearing corpus callosum: support for primary hypoperfusion in multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypoperfusion of the normal-appearing white matter in multiple sclerosis (MS) may be related to ischemia or secondary to hypometabolism from wallerian degeneration (WD). This study evaluated whether correlating perfusion and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics in normal-appearing corpus callosum could provide support for an ischemic mechanism for hypoperfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and 17 control subjects underwent perfusion MR imaging and DTI. Absolute measures of cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) were calculated. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were computed from DTI data. After visual coregistration of perfusion and DTI images, regions of interest were placed in the genu, central body, and splenium of normal-appearing corpus callosum. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated using mean DTI and perfusion measures in each region. RESULTS: In the RRMS group, CBF and CBV were significantly correlated with MD in the splenium (r = 0.83 and r = 0.63, respectively; both P < .001) and in the central body (r = 0.86 and r = 0.65, respectively; both P < .001), but not in the genu (r = 0.23 and 0.25, respectively; both P is nonsignificant). No significant correlations were found between MTT and DTI measures or between FA and any perfusion measure in the RRMS group. No significant correlations between diffusion and perfusion metrics were found in control subjects. CONCLUSION: In the normal-appearing corpus callosum of patients with RRMS, decreasing perfusion is correlated with decreasing MD. These findings are more consistent with what would be expected in primary ischemia than in secondary hypoperfusion from WD.     

Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome: preliminary results

The purpose was to demonstrate the feasibility of in vivo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography of the human median nerve with a 1.5-T MR scanner and to assess potential differences in diffusion between healthy volunteers and patients suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve was examined in 13 patients and 13 healthy volunteers with MR DTI and tractography using a 1.5-T MRI scanner with a dedicated wrist coil. T1-weighted images were performed for anatomical correlation. Mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were quantified in the median nerve on tractography images. In all subjects, the nerve orientation and course could be detected with tractography. Mean FA values were significantly lower in patients (p=0.03). However, no statistically significant differences were found for mean ADC values. In vivo assessment of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel using DTI with tractography on a 1.5-T MRI scanner is possible. Microstructural parameters can be easily obtained from tractography images. A significant decrease of mean FA values was found in patients suffering from chronic compression of the median nerve. Further investigations are necessary to determine if mean FA values may be correlated with the severity of nerve entrapment.     

High fractional anisotropy in brain abscesses versus other cystic intracranial lesions

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is known that intracranial mass lesions are relatively isotropic on diffusion-weighted imaging. The purpose of this study is to report an unusually high fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (D(av)) in the cavity of the brain abscess compared with other cystic lesions. METHODS: We performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in 12 patients with cystic intracranial lesions (pyogenic abscess, n = 5; cysticercus cysts, n = 2; and low-grade astrocytoma, n = 5). Mean FA, D(av) from the lesion core, perifocal edema, and corresponding contralateral normal-appearing regions were measured and compared for relative changes in these parameters. In the abscess cases, we placed regions of interest on areas with FA >0.2 and FA <0.2 to get FA and D(av) values. RESULTS: There were two patterns of FA values in the abscess cavity in all five patients. Part of the abscess showed mean FA = 0.440 +/- 0.135, with D(av) = (0.993 +/- 0.185) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, whereas other parts had FA = 0.131 +/- 0.039 with D(av) = (0.824 +/- 0.183) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s. The cystic tumors and neurocysticercosis showed very high D(av) = (2.806 +/- 0.25, 2.654 +/- 0.35)x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, with low FA = (0.108 +/- 0.037, 0.08 +/- 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: Brain abscess cavity shows regions of increased FA values with restricted mean diffusivity compared with other cystic intracranial lesions. This information may prevent misinterpretation of the DTI information as white matter fiber bundle abnormalities associated with mass lesions.     

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。