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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Reliability of fiber tracking measurements in diffusion tensor imaging for longitudinal study
Laura E Danielian1, Nobue K Iwata, David M Thomasson
1EMG Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive MSC 1404, Bldg. 10, Rm 7-5680, Bethesda, MD 20892-1404, USA. danielil@ninds.nih.gov
Neuroimage
|September 12, 2009
Summary
Diffusion property measurements using fiber tracking are reliable for evaluating white matter changes over time. This method shows good geometric alignment and reproducible diffusion measurements, aiding longitudinal studies.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
- White Matter Integrity
Background:
- Diffusion property measurements are crucial for understanding white matter diseases like motor neuron disease.
- Deterministic fiber tracking is used to isolate specific white matter tracts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the statistical reliability of diffusion property measurements in healthy subjects.
- To evaluate the intra-rater, inter-rater, scan-rescan, and longitudinal reliability of fiber tracking.
Main Methods:
- Ten healthy subjects underwent diffusion property measurements using deterministic fiber tracking.
- Key tracts analyzed included corticospinal tract (CST), uncinate fasciculus (UNC), and corpus callosum (CC) sub-regions.
- Measurements included fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (λ1), transverse diffusivity (λ⊥), and voxel volume (VV).
- Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficients of variation (CV), and kappa (κ) statistics.
Main Results:
- Fiber tracking demonstrated good geometric alignment and reliable diffusion measurements (intra-rater ICC >0.92, inter-rater ICC >0.77).
- Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and transverse diffusivity (λ⊥) showed high reliability over time (ICC >0.8).
- Voxel volume (VV) was reliable but with higher coefficients of variation (CVs); axial diffusivity (λ1) reproducibility was not demonstrated.
Conclusions:
- Deterministic fiber tracking is a reliable tool for longitudinal evaluation of white matter diffusion properties.
- The findings support the use of fiber tracking in studies of white matter diseases.
- Averaging measurements from multiple scans improves longitudinal reliability.
