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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression
Published on: May 7, 2019
MR diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tracking in inflammatory diseases of the spinal cord
1Department of Neuroradiology, CHU de Bicêtre, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.
Purpose:
Our aim was to study the fractional anisotropy (FA) variations and the fiber tracking (FT) patterns observed in patients with myelitis.
Material And Methods:
Fifteen patients with symptomatic myelitis and 11 healthy subjects were prospectively selected. We performed T2-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging on a 1.5T MR scanner. FA and apparent diffusion coefficient maps were computed in both healthy subjects and patients. In each patient, we performed FT to study pathologic aspects on this imaging method. FA data were analyzed by using z-scores.
Results:
For the healthy subjects, averaged FA values ranged from 0.745 to 0.751. All abnormal areas seen on T2-weighted imaging had a significantly decreased FA value. In 9 patients (60%), FA maps showed decreased FA areas, whereas T2-weighted imaging findings were normal. These areas matched the neurologic deficit in 33%. Eighty percent of patients had multiple decreased FA areas. Five patients (33%) had increased FA values in normal T2-weighted areas.
Conclusion:
We observed specific FA and FT pattern variations in patients with myelitis.
Insights
Fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber tracking (FT) show distinct patterns in myelitis patients. These diffusion tensor imaging metrics reveal abnormalities not always visible on standard MRI, aiding in understanding the disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Background:
- Myelitis is an inflammatory condition affecting the spinal cord.
- Accurate diagnosis and monitoring of myelitis are crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate fractional anisotropy (FA) variations and fiber tracking (FT) patterns in patients diagnosed with myelitis.
- To assess the utility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in identifying myelitis-related spinal cord changes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 15 symptomatic myelitis patients and 11 healthy controls.
- Acquisition of T2-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using a 1.5T MR scanner.
- Computation of FA and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps, with FA data analyzed using z-scores and fiber tracking performed on patient data.
Main Results:
- Healthy subjects exhibited average FA values between 0.745 and 0.751.
- Areas with abnormalities on T2-weighted imaging consistently showed significantly decreased FA values.
- In 60% of patients, decreased FA areas were detected on FA maps despite normal T2-weighted imaging findings, correlating with neurological deficits in 33% of cases.
- Eighty percent of patients presented with multiple decreased FA areas, and 33% showed increased FA values in T2-normal regions.
Conclusions:
- Specific patterns of fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber tracking (FT) variations are characteristic of myelitis.
- DTI-derived metrics like FA can detect spinal cord abnormalities in myelitis even when conventional MRI sequences appear normal.
- FA and FT show promise as sensitive imaging biomarkers for the evaluation of myelitis.
