2个CADASIL患者的弥散张量成像与20例正常人的比较

目的　分析2例CADASIL患者的MR特点及弥散张量指标的变化。方法　收集2例通过病理和基因检查确诊为CA DASIL的先证者的临床资料,对其进行常规MR扫描和弥散张量成像,将弥散张量成像的指标与20例正常志愿者的指标进行比较。结果　2例CADASIL患者的MR主要表现为双侧额顶叶白质内多发腔梗、脱髓鞘改变和双侧颞叶前部白质脱髓鞘。1例患者双侧外囊、内囊后肢、胼胝体膝部和压部的部分各向异性(FA)值均小于正常组的平均值减去2倍标准差,另1例患者左侧外囊的FA值小于对照组的平均值减去2倍标准差。结论　常规MR表现和弥散张量成像指标的测量均反映了CADASIL患者中存在严重的白质病变。     

Usefulness of diffusion tensor imaging of white matter in Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of diffusion tensor imaging in detecting the water diffusivity caused by neuropathological change in Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.

Material and Methods: Twenty patients with Alzheimer disease, 20 with vascular dementia, and 10 control subjects were examined. Diffusion tensor imaging applied diffusion gradient encoding in six non-collinear directions. Fractional anisotropy values were compared in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, and anterior and posterior white matter among the three groups.

Results: In the patients with Alzheimer disease, fractional anisotropy values of the posterior white matter were significantly lower than those of controls. In patients with vascular dementia, fractional anisotropy values of the anterior white matter tended to be lower than those of the posterior white matter (P=0.07).

Conclusion: Diffusion tensor imaging reflects the neuropathological changes in the white matter, and may be useful in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.     

Diffusion-tensor MR imaging of the brain in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is early evidence that diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) is useful in demonstrating subtle white matter alterations in different diseases of brain. We hypothesize that DTI in several brain regions in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) patients is useful in the early detection of HIV-related brain injury. METHODS: MR imaging and DTI were performed in 60 HIV+ patients and in 30 controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC; mm/s(2)) maps were generated and coregistered on T2-weighted images. Regions of interest were placed in the splenium and genu of the callosum, the frontal white matter, and the hippocampus. HIV+ patients were divided into those whose CD4 count were <250 cells/mm(3) or >250 cells/mm(3). According to plasma viral loads, patients were divided into those whose viral loads were <50 copies/mL, 50-100,000 copies/mL, or >100,000 copies/mL. RESULTS: Statistically significant decrease of FA was found in the genu of the corpus callosum in HIV+ patients compared with controls. FA was reduced in the frontal white matter and hippocampi in HIV+ patients compared with controls. Differences, however, were not statistically significant. No statistically significant differences were found between the HIV+ groups for FA of the splenium or between these groups and the controls. ADC values were significantly increased in the genu of HIV+ patients when compared with controls and were also increased in other locations, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: As used in this study, DTI was not helpful in identifying patients with early HIV infection.     

Diffusion alterations in corpus callosum of patients with HIV

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Diffusion alterations have been identified in the corpus callosum and frontal white matter of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), though the relevance of these findings to cognitive deterioration has not yet been determined. This study tested the hypothesis that diffusion tensor imaging can detect tissue status alterations in these regions in cognitively impaired patients infected with HIV and the acquired measurements correlate with the severity of cognitive impairment. METHODS: Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were determined for corpus callosum (genu and splenium) and frontal white matter (FWM). The DTI measurements were compared in 11 HIV and 11 control participants. Patterns of relationship were examined with cognitive status measures from concurrent neurologic and neuropsychologic evaluations. RESULTS: FA values for the splenium were significantly reduced in the patients infected with HIV and correlated with dementia severity and deficits in motor speed. MD values for the splenium were significantly increased in the patients infected with HIV and correlated with deficits in motor speed. FA measurements were also significantly correlated with performance on visual memory (genu), visuoconstruction (FWM), and verbal memory (FWM) tasks. CONCLUSION: Diffusion abnormalities were identified in the splenium of the corpus callosum in patients infected with HIV, and these alterations were associated with dementia severity and motor speed losses. In vivo assessment of callosal integrity by using quantitative neuroimaging may have potential utility as a marker of brain injury in patients infected with HIV.     

3.0T MR弥散梯度编码方向对脑组织FA值测量的影响

目的:探讨超高场强MR下弥散张量成像中弥散梯度编码方向对脑组织弥散各向异性分数(FA)的影响。方法:使用3种不同的弥散梯度编码方向(6、13和21个)在3.0T MRI上对14名健康志愿者进行头颅弥散张量成像(DTI)。在FA图上分别测量两侧半卵圆中心、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部、两侧内囊、丘脑及桥脑FA值,并进行统计学分析。结果:胼胝体压部FA值最高,其次为胼胝体膝部、内囊和桥脑,丘脑FA值最低。随着弥散梯度编码方向的增加,FA图质量提高,对白质纤维束细节的显示也更清楚,尤其是对脑干结构的分辨,但成像时间延长;3种不同弥散梯度编码方向的DTI扫描方案所观察到的半卵圆中心、胼胝体膝部、胼胝体压部、内囊、丘脑及桥脑的FA值不存在统计学显著性差异。结论:超高场MRI弥散梯度编码方向数目对脑组织FA值的测量无显著性影响,在临床运用中可根据患者状况选择弥散梯度编码方向,以提高DTI检查的成功率。     

Neonatal citrullinemia: comparison of conventional MR, diffusion-weighted, and diffusion tensor findings

Conventional MR, diffusion-weighted, and diffusion tensor imaging were performed in an 8-day-old girl with citrullinemia. She had severe hyperammonemia for several days. On conventional T2-weighted MR images, symmetric, confluent high signal intensity was found in the bilateral thalami, basal ganglia, cortex, and subcortical white matter. Diffusion-weighted imaging demonstrated decreased apparent diffusion coefficient in these areas, reflecting cytotoxic edema. Follow-up MR imaging at the age of 4 months revealed subcortical cysts, ulegyric changes, and atrophy, which were most prominent in the occipital lobes. Diffusion tensor imaging revealed decreased anisotropy throughout the brain, consistent with diffuse injury to the oligodendro-axonal unit. Diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging are valuable techniques for the detection of irreversible brain damage and for the characterization of hyperintense lesions on T2-weighted MR images in patients with the neonatal form of citrullinemia.     

儿童脑室周围白质软化症的MR扩散张量成像研究

目的应用MR扩散张量成像对脑室周围白质软化症(PVL)患儿和正常婴幼儿进行比较。方法对15例正常志愿者和15例PVL患儿进行了扩散张量成像扫描,测量双侧内囊后肢、双侧视放射和胼胝体膝部、压部的部分各向异性(FA)值,并对结果进行统计学比较。结果对照组和PVL组的右侧内囊后肢的FA值分别为0682±0399和0555±0087、左侧内囊后肢的FA值分别为0673±0043和0557±0030,右侧和左侧视放射的FA值分别为0437±0675、0429±0052、0351±0051、0339±0064,胼胝体膝部、压部的FA值分别为0696±0579、0756±0454、0564±0080、0586±0100,差异均有统计学意义(P<001)。结论扩散张量成像能提示纤维束的髓鞘化过程的延迟,反映儿童发育中脑白质微观结构的改变,在PVL的随访观察中具有较大的潜力。     

DTI对HIV感染者脑白质细微结构病变的诊断研究

目的 探讨扩散张量成像(DTI)技术对人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)感染者脑白质细微病变的诊断和临床应用价值.方法选取80例HIV阳性者(阳性组)和83例HIV阴性者(对照组),均行MRI常规序列及DTI扫描.测定双侧内囊前支、内囊后支、内囊膝、胼胝体膝部、压部及双侧胼胝体干脑白质感兴趣区(ROI)的各向异性分数(FA)值和表观扩散系数(ADC)值,利用独立样本t检验比较2组间FA值及ADC值的差异.结果与正常对照组相比,阳性组双侧内囊前支及内囊膝、胼胝体膝部及双侧胼胝体干FA值均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);阳性组双侧内囊前支、后支、膝部及双侧胼胝体干ADC值均高于对照组,差异亦有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论DTI通过FA值和ADC值的异常改变而发现HIV阳性患者内囊及胼胝体区脑白质结构的细微病变,为临床早期诊断和治疗干预提供参考依据.     

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...     

Diffusion tensor MR imaging of the brain. Clinical applications

Diffusion tensor MR imaging is a technique that provides details on tIssue microstructure and organization well beyond the usual image resolution. With diffusion tensor MR imaging, diffusion anisotropy can be quantified and subtle white matter changes not normally seen on conventional MRI can be detected. The purpose of this article is to review the current applications of diffusion tensor MR imaging for the study of the brain, including normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, neuropsychiatric disorders, strokes, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors and intractable seizures.     

Regional and global changes in cerebral diffusion with normal aging

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We used quantitative diffusion MR imaging to investigate the microstructural changes that occur in white matter during normal aging in order to identify regional changes in anisotropy and to quantify global microstructural changes by use of whole-brain diffusion histograms. METHODS: Full diffusion tensor MR imaging was performed in 20 healthy volunteers, 20 to 91 years old. Thirteen subjects also underwent high-resolution T1-weighted imaging, so that diffusion images could be coregistered and standardized to normal coordinates for statistical probability mapping. Relative anisotropy (RA) was calculated, as was linear regression of RA with age for each pixel; pixels with a significant correlation coefficient were displayed. For histographic analysis, the average apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histograms were calculated on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Subjects were divided into two equal groups by the median age (55 years) of the population and plotted for statistical comparison. RESULTS: Regional analysis showed statistically significant decreases in RA with increasing age in the periventricular white matter, frontal white matter, and genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, despite the absence of signal abnormalities on visual inspection of conventional images. Significant increases in RA were found in the internal capsules bilaterally. ADC histograms showed higher mean ADC and reduced peak height and skew in the older age group on group comparisons. CONCLUSION: Quantitative diffusion histograms correlate with normal aging and may provide a global assessment of normal age-related changes and serve as a standard for comparison with neurodegenerative diseases.     

Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts in an adult: quantitative proton MR spectroscopy and diffusion tensor MRI

A 37-year-old macrocephalic woman was investigated for increasing gait disturbance due to longstanding spasticity and ataxia. MRI showed widespread bilateral increase in signal from cerebral white matter on T2-weighted images. Numerous subcortical cysts were visible in anterior-temporal and parietal regions. These clinical and neuroradiological features are those of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC), a recently delineated white-matter disease with onset in childhood. Quantitative localised proton MR spectroscopy of white matter revealed marked reduction of N-acetylaspartate, creatine, and choline with normal values for myo-inositol, consistent with axonal loss and astrocytic proliferation. Diffusion tensor imaging showed an increased apparent diffusion coefficient and reduced anisotropy in affected white matter pointing to reduced cell density with an increased extracellular space. These findings are in line with histological changes alterations known to occur in MLC.     

婴幼儿发育迟缓的脑磁共振扩散张量成像研究

目的应用磁共振扩散张量成像(DTI)研究发育迟缓婴幼儿脑白质的各向异性(FA)值,探讨其与正常婴幼儿脑白质有无差异。资料与方法对40例发育迟缓和40例正常婴幼儿进行了常规MRI及DTI扫描,并以常规MRI表现将发育迟缓组分为常规MRI表现正常和常规MRI表现脑白质发育迟缓。分别测量5个深部脑白质与4个浅部脑白质的FA值,并对结果进行统计学比较。结果发育迟缓组各测量部位FA值低于对照组,除内囊后肢外差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。发育迟缓常规MRI表现正常患儿深部脑白质FA值低于正常组,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);浅部脑白质FA值低于正常组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);发育迟缓常规MRI表现发育迟缓脑白质FA值均低于正常组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论应用DTI FA值的测量能定量诊断婴幼儿脑白质发育迟缓,尤其常规MRI正常的发育迟缓患儿浅部脑白质FA值低于对照组,可明确诊断发育迟缓。     

Evaluation of the anisotropy in the patients with Alzheimer's disease

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging was performed in 5 control subjects and 8 patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD). The mean values of fractional anisotropy(FA) were calculated in the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum, and anterior and posterior cerebral white matter. The FA value of the posterior white matter in patients with AD was significantly lower than that of controls. Fractional anisotropy may be useful in the diagnosis of AD.     

Basic principles of diffusion tensor MR tractography

Diffusion tensor MR tractography allows in vivo depiction of anatomical bundles composing the white matter of the brain and of spinal cord. Diffusion MRI uses the effects of heterogeneous water molecule movement to determine for each pixel the main axis and magnitude of local anisotropy. Tractography exploits these data to reconstruct the tridimensional geometry of the bundles providing neurologists with precise information about white matter tract architecture involvement by various pathologies. In this paper, the basic principles of molecular diffusion and the subsequent diffusion tensor that describes its geometrical and quantitative characteristics will be reviewed, in particular within bundles of white matter. Then main principles of diffusion tensor MR imaging and tractography will be presented.     

Diffusion-tensor MR imaging in children with developmental delay: preliminary findings

PURPOSE: To determine whether diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can depict abnormalities in patients with a diagnosis of developmental delay but structurally normal brain MR imaging results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty pediatric patients who received a diagnosis of developmental delay underwent brain MR examinations, including diffusion-tensor MR imaging. The MR findings in these patients were compared with those in 10 age-matched neurodevelopmentally healthy children. Diffusion constant (Dav) and anisotropy were measured bilaterally in regions of interest in the centrum semiovale, corona radiata, internal capsule, corpus callosum, and subcortical white matter of the frontal and parieto-occipital lobes. By using a one-tailed Student t test in the positive direction for Dav and in the negative direction for anisotropy and P <.05 to indicate a significant difference, the Dav and anisotropy values for children with developmental delay were compared with those for children who were neurodevelopmentally healthy. RESULTS: The children with developmental delay had significant increases in Dav in all measured structures (P, <.001 to <.03). Significant decreases in anisotropy were detected in all white matter fiber tracts studied (P, <.001 to <.03) except the posterior limb of the internal capsule. CONCLUSION: In the children with developmental delay, diffusion-tensor MR imaging depicted decreases in anisotropy and increases in Dav in the white matter fiber tracts, which appeared to be normal at conventional MR imaging.     

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.     

Diffusion tensor brain imaging findings at term-equivalent age may predict neurologic abnormalities in low birth weight preterm infants

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Low birth weight preterm infants are at high risk of brain injury, particularly injury to the white matter. Diffusion tensor imaging is thought to be more sensitive than conventional MR imaging for detecting subtle white matter abnormalities. The objective of this study was to examine whether diffusion tensor imaging could detect abnormalities that may be associated with later neurologic abnormalities in infants with otherwise normal or minimally abnormal conventional MR imaging findings. METHODS: We prospectively studied 137 low birth weight (<1800 g) preterm infants. Neonatal conventional MR imaging and diffusion tensor imaging were performed near term-equivalent age before discharge, and neurologic development of the infants was later followed up at 18 to 24 months of age. RESULTS: Among the preterm infants who were fully studied, 63 underwent normal conventional MR imaging. Three of these infants developed cerebral palsy, and 10 others showed abnormal neurologic outcome. Diffusion tensor imaging results for these infants showed a significant reduction of fractional anisotropy in the posterior limb of the internal capsule in neurologically abnormal infants (including those with cerebral palsy) compared with control preterm infants with normal neurologic outcomes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that neonatal diffusion tensor imaging may allow earlier detection of specific anatomic findings of microstructural abnormalities in infants at risk for neurologic abnormalities and disability. The combination of conventional MR imaging and diffusion tensor imaging may increase the predictive value of neonatal MR imaging for later neurologic outcome abnormalities and may become the basis for future interventional clinical studies to improve outcomes.     

Six is enough? Comparison of diffusion parameters measured using six or more diffusion‐encoding gradient directions with deterministic tractography

Diffusion tensor imaging tractography is commonly used to quantify white matter tracts in the human brain via parameters such as fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity. Simulation studies recommend the use of more than six directions for robust parameter estimates; however, no study has examined the impact of the number of gradient directions on deterministic tractography-derived diffusion parameters in human brain. Here, for 10 major white matter tracts in 11 healthy volunteers at 1.5 T, six-direction diffusion tensor imaging data were compared to 30- or 60-direction data, keeping scan time and number of b = 0 images constant within each test. Mean diffusivity was systematically lower for six-direction protocols (20/40 comparisons); six-direction data had higher fractional anisotropy in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and smaller tract volume for the genu of the corpus callosum. In general, parameter differences due to the number of directions were smaller than those from intersubject variation or signal-to-noise ratio. Despite some absolute differences, standard deviations were significantly different for only one of 160 comparisons. Thus, six-direction data provide diffusion measures with comparable robustness to 30- or 60-direction data and yield appropriate parameter values for most white matter tracts, although there are clear advantages in acquiring higher angular resolution data.     

弥散张量成像技术在星形细胞肿瘤中的应用价值初探

目的：评价MRI弥散张量成像技术在星形细胞肿瘤中的应用价值。材料和方法：采用GE1.5T超导MR成像系统，对16例1-2级星形细胞肿瘤及15例3-4级星形细胞肿瘤进行了MRI检查，检查序列包括T1WI、T2WI、FLAIR、弥散张量序列（diffusion tensor imaging，DTI）及增强后T1WI。结果：正常脑白质纤维在不同解剖平面，如半卵圆中心、内囊、胼胝体、视放射、锥体束、锥体交叉及内外侧丘系等，各向异性分数图（FA）均为高信号，白质纤维受到破坏后表现为低信号，而这些表现在常规T1WI、T2WI及FLAIR图上未能清楚显示。结论：DT1可以无创性检查脑白质纤维，用于脑肿瘤诊断及术前手术方案的制定。