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Published on: February 18, 2012
Diffusion tensor imaging of the cortical plate and subplate in very-low-birth-weight infants
Jeroen Dudink1, Jan Buijs, Paul Govaert
1Division of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.dudink@erasmusmc.nl
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) provides reference values for preterm infant brain development. These findings establish normal fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for the cortical and subplate regions in very-low-birth-weight infants.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Radiology
Background:
- Intervention studies in preterm infants often lack short-term neurodevelopmental outcome measures.
- Cortical plate and subplate development may serve as valuable early markers.
- Establishing normative data is crucial for assessing deviations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normal Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) reference values for the cortical plate and subplate in preterm infants.
- To provide normative data for fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in specific brain regions.
- To aid in the evaluation of neurodevelopmental trajectories in high-risk infants.
Main Methods:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) scans were analyzed from 19 preterm infants with normal MRI and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Regions of interest (ROI) were placed on the frontal and temporal cortical plate and subplate.
- Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were measured using single and multiple voxel ROIs.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse correlation was observed between gestational age (GA) and FA in the frontal and temporal cortical plates.
- Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values showed a significant positive correlation with GA in the frontal and temporal subplates.
- These correlations suggest developmental changes in white matter microstructure detectable by DTI.
Conclusions:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables in vivo assessment of the developing cortical and subplate structures.
- Normative FA and ADC values for the subplate and cortical plate in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants with normal outcomes are provided.
- These reference values can be utilized for future research and clinical evaluations.
Background:
Many intervention studies in preterm infants aim to improve neurodevelopmental outcome, but short-term proxy outcome measurements are lacking. Cortical plate and subplate development could be such a marker.
Objective:
Our aim was to provide normal DTI reference values for the cortical plate and subplate of preterm infants.
Materials And Methods:
As part of an ongoing study we analysed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) images of 19 preterm infants without evidence of injury on conventional MRI, with normal outcome (Bayley-II assessed at age 2), and scanned in the first 4 days of life. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in the frontal and temporal subplate and cortical plate were measured in single and multiple voxel regions of interest (ROI) placed on predefined regions.
Results:
Using single-voxel ROIs, statistically significant inverse correlation was found between gestational age (GA) and FA of the frontal (r = -0.5938, P = 0.0058) and temporal (r = -0.4912, P = 0.0327) cortical plate. ADC values had a significant positive correlation with GA in the frontal (r = 0.5427, P = 0.0164) and temporal (r = 0.5540, P = 0.0138) subplate.
Conclusion:
Diffusion tensor imaging allows in vivo exploration of the evolving cortical plate and subplate. We provide FA and ADC values of the subplate and cortical plate in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants with normal developmental outcome that can be used as reference values.
