Neuropsychological implications of white matter microstructural lesions determined by diffusion tensor imaging in magnetic resonance imaging-negative temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract BACKGROUND: Syringomyelia can result in major functional disability. Conventional imaging techniques frequently fail to detect the underlying cause of syringomyelia. The prediction as to whether syringomyelia might lead to neurological deficits is still challenging. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that fractional anisotropy (FA) derived from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a parameter to detect dynamic forms of syringomyelia. METHODS: Six patients with cervical syringomyelia, all comparable in size, shape, and location, were examined, along with 2 volunteers. Patients underwent electrophysiological recordings (somatosensory evoked potentials, motor evoked potentials, silent periods). Magnetic resonance imaging (1.5 T) was performed with a 6-element spine coil. Anatomic images were acquired with a 3-dimensional, constructive interference in steady-state sequence, and DTI with an echo-planar imaging sequence (5-mm thickness, b value 800 s/mm2) using the generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions technique. The positions were centered on the syrinx in the volunteers between the C2 and Th1. DTI data were interpolated to a spatial resolution of 0.5 mm. After calculation of a diffusion tensor in each pixel, an FA map was calculated and profiles of the FA values across the spinal cord were calculated in all slices. RESULTS: FA values were lower at the level of all examined syrinxes and reached normal values beyond them. Electrophysiological results correlated with the decrease in FA value. There were no presyrinx changes in the white matter tracts in terms of signs of FA changes beneath the syrinx. CONCLUSION: DTI of syringomyelia can demonstrate white matter fiber tracts around and beyond the syrinx consistent with electrophysiological values. DTI of the cervical spine can provide quantitative information about the pathological characteristics beyond the abnormalities visible on magnetic resonance imaging.

Download Full-text

White matter differences in euthymic bipolar I disorder: a combined magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging voxel-based study

Bipolar Disorders ◽

10.1111/bdi.12073 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (4) ◽

pp. 365-376 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Louise Emsell ◽

Camilla Langan ◽

Wim Van Hecke ◽

Gareth J Barker ◽

Alexander Leemans ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Bipolar I Disorder ◽

And Diffusion

Download Full-text

Chemotherapy-induced changes of cerebral activity in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral white matter in diffusion tensor imaging

Oncotarget ◽

10.18632/oncotarget.18111 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (46) ◽

pp. 81273-81284 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Caiqin Mo ◽

Hailong Lin ◽

Fangmeng Fu ◽

Lin Lin ◽

Jie Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resting State ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Cerebral White Matter ◽

Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Induced Changes

Download Full-text

White matter microstructure on diffusion tensor imaging is associated with conventional magnetic resonance imaging findings and cognitive function in adolescents born preterm

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology ◽

10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04378.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 54 (9) ◽

pp. 809-814 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

HEIDI M FELDMAN ◽

ELIANA S LEE ◽

IRENE M LOE ◽

KRISTEN W YEOM ◽

KALANIT GRILL-SPECTOR ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Imaging Findings ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

White Matter Microstructure

Download Full-text

Diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities in depressed multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458509355461 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 189-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

A. Feinstein ◽

P. O'Connor ◽

N. Akbar ◽

L. Moradzadeh ◽

CJM Scott ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Normal Appearing White Matter

Depression is common in patients with multiple sclerosis, but to date no studies have explored diffusion tensor imaging indices associated with mood change. This study aimed to determine cerebral correlates of depression in multiple sclerosis patients using diffusion tensor imaging. Sixty-two subjects with multiple sclerosis were assessed for depression with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). All subjects underwent magnetic resonance imaging. Whole brain and regional volumes were calculated for lesions (hyper/hypointense) and normal-appearing white and grey matter. Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity were calculated for each brain region. Magnetic resonance imaging comparisons were undertaken between depressed (Beck Depression Inventory ≥19) and non-depressed subjects. Depressed subjects (n = 30) had a higher hypointense lesion volume in the right medial inferior frontal region, a smaller normal-appearing white matter volume in the left superior frontal region, and lower fractional anisotropy and higher mean diffusivity in the left anterior temporal normal-appearing white matter and normal-appearing grey matter regions, respectively. Depressed subjects also had higher mean diffusivity in right inferior frontal hyperintense lesions. Magnetic resonance imaging variables contributed to 43% of the depression variance. We conclude that the presence of more marked diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities in the normal-appearing white matter and normal-appearing grey matter of depressed subjects highlights the importance of more subtle measures of structural brain change in the pathogenesis of depression.

Download Full-text

Advanced magnetic resonance imaging of neuromyelitis optica: a multiparametric approach

Multiple Sclerosis Journal ◽

10.1177/1352458511431072 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 817-824 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

A Pichiecchio ◽

E Tavazzi ◽

G Poloni ◽

M Ponzio ◽

F Palesi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Grey Matter ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Healthy Controls ◽

Voxel Based Morphometry ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Normal Appearing White Matter

Background: Several authors have used advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques to investigate whether patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) have occult damage in normal-appearing brain tissue, similarly to multiple sclerosis (MS). To date, the literature contains no data derived from the combined use of several advanced MRI techniques in the same NMO subjects. Objective: We set out to determine whether occult damage could be detected in the normal-appearing brain tissue of a small group of patients with NMO using a multiparametric MRI approach. Methods: Eight female patients affected by NMO (age range 44–58 years) and seven sex- and age-matched healthy controls were included. The techniques used on a 1.5 T MRI imaging scanner were magnetization transfer imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, tract-based spatial statistics, spectroscopy and voxel-based morphometry in order to analyse normal-appearing white matter and normal-appearing grey matter. Results: Structural and metabolic parameters showed no abnormalities in normal-appearing white matter of patients with NMO. Conversely, tract-based spatial statistics demonstrated a selective alteration of the optic pathways and the lateral geniculate nuclei. Diffusion tensor imaging values in the normal-appearing grey matter were found to be significantly different in the patients with NMO versus the healthy controls. Moreover, voxel-based morphometry analysis demonstrated a significant density and volume reduction of the sensorimotor cortex and the visual cortex. Conclusions: Our data disclosed occult structural damage in the brain of patients with NMO, predominantly involving regions connected with motor and visual systems. This damage seems to be the direct consequence of transsynaptic degeneration triggered by lesions of the optic nerve and spine.

Download Full-text

Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Colored Fractional Anisotropy Mapping of the Ventralis Intermedius Nucleus of the Thalamus

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/neu.0b013e3182296a42 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 69 (5) ◽

pp. 1124-1130 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Mark Sedrak ◽

Alessandra Gorgulho ◽

Andrew Frew ◽

Eric Behnke ◽

Antonio DeSalles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽

White Matter ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Fractional Anisotropy ◽

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Patient Specific ◽

Superior Cerebellar Peduncle ◽

Resonance Imaging ◽

Neurosurgical Planning

Abstract BACKGROUND The ventralis intermedius (VIM) nucleus of the thalamus is the primary surgical target for treatment of tremor. Most centers rely on indirect targeting based on atlas-defined coordinates rather than patient-specific anatomy, making intraoperative physiological mapping critical. Detailed identification of this target based on patient-specific anatomic features can help optimize the surgical treatment of tremor. OBJECTIVE To study colored fractional anisotropic images and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography to identify characteristic magnetic resonance appearances of the VIM nucleus. METHODS Four patients undergoing stereotactic surgery for essential tremor (ET) were retrospectively studied with analysis of magnetic resonance imaging-based colored fractional anisotropy (FA) images and fiber tractography. All were scanned with a 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging unit, and all sequences were obtained before frame placement. Because the goal of this study was to identify the DTI characteristics of physiologically defined VIM nucleus, we selected and studied patients who had undergone DTI and had efficacious tremor control with intraoperative microlesioning effect and tremor reduction with less than 2.0-V stimulation. RESULTS Analysis of color FA maps, which graphically illustrate fiber directionality, revealed consistent anatomic patterns. The region of the VIM nucleus can be seen as an intermediate region where there is a characteristic transition of color. Presumptive VIM nucleus interconnectivity with sensorimotor cortex and cerebellum was identified via the internal capsule and the superior cerebellar peduncle, respectively. FA maps could also be used to distinguish segments of gray matter, white matter, and gray-white matter boundaries. CONCLUSION Analysis of DTI and FA maps on widely available 1.5-T magnetic resonance imaging yields clear identification of various structures key to neurosurgical targeting. Prospective evaluation of integrating DTI into neurosurgical planning may be warranted.

Download Full-text