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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
[The value of diffusion MR imaging in judging pathological changes of brain multiple sclerosis]
Shu-guang Chu1, Tian-zhen Shen, Xing-rong Chen
1Department of Radiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China.
Objective:
To analyze the findings of MR diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor Imaging (DTI) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), and to explore their role in reflecting the pathological changes of MR lesions.
Methods:
DWI and DTI were performed on 41 MS cases and 25 sub-acute brain infarct cases which used as control group. The appearances of ADC maps, EADC maps and FA maps in patients of both groups were analyzed. Quantitative analysis of the values of ADC, EADC and FA in the center and periphery of the lesions of acute MS, chronic MS and sub-acute brain infarct was carried out separately.
Result:
In DWI, the small chronic lesions were iso-intensity, and the large acute MS lesions and the sub-acute-infarct lesions had a high signal intensity to various degrees. In the EADC map, only in 13 cases with acute MS around the peripheral zone of the lesions there was a high signal intensity, and all other cases, including the cases with chronic MS and brain infarct had no high signal lesions. The ADC values of chronic and infarct lesions were similar (P > 0.05), both of them had the highest ADC value which were higher than the signal intensity in the center (both P < 0.05) and the periphery (both P < 0.05) of the MS lesions. The FA values in the infarct lesions were the lowest, much more lower than that in the chronic MS lesions (P < 0.05). The FA value in the center of acute MS lesions was lower than that in the peripheral zone (P < 0.05), and higher than the FA value both in the chronic MS and infarct lesions (P < 0.05). The lowest ADC value outside the peripheral zone of acute MS lesions and the highest EADC value were found.
Conclusion:
The significance of DWI high signal in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MS is not reliable, so the patient's history and the findings found in the routine MRI must be conjugated when an imaging diagnosis is made. The EADC map is more accurate than ADC map for showing the diffusion restriction of water molecular in the MS lesions. The degree of increase of the ADC value and the degree of decease of the FA value are proportional to the degree of severity of the pathological changes of the MS lesions.
Insights
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) show promise in assessing multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. EADC maps are more accurate than ADC maps for visualizing MS lesions, with changes correlating to disease severity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Neurology
Context:
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for MS diagnosis.
- Diffusion imaging techniques offer insights into tissue microstructure.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the utility of Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in characterizing Multiple Sclerosis (MS) lesions.
- To correlate imaging findings with pathological changes in MS.
- To compare the diagnostic performance of ADC and EADC maps.
Summary:
- DWI findings for MS diagnosis are not always reliable; routine MRI and clinical history are essential.
- EADC maps demonstrate superior accuracy compared to ADC maps in depicting water diffusion restriction within MS lesions.
- Increased ADC values and decreased FA values correlate with the severity of pathological changes in MS lesions.
Impact:
- This study enhances understanding of diffusion imaging's role in MS assessment.
- Findings can guide the interpretation of MRI scans for MS patients.
- Improved characterization of MS lesions may lead to better disease monitoring and management.
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