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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Evaluation of white matter changes in agyria-pachygyria complex using diffusion tensor imaging
Yu-Chia Kao1, Steven Shinn-Forng Peng, Wen-Chin Weng
1Department of Pediatrics, E-DA Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging reveals white matter abnormalities in children with agyria-pachygyria complex. Findings suggest impaired axonal and myelin development in this rare neurological disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Neurology
Background:
- Agyria-pachygyria complex is a severe neuronal migration disorder.
- White matter abnormalities in this condition are not well understood.
- Advanced imaging techniques like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) offer new insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter changes in children with agyria-pachygyria complex using DTI.
- To characterize specific alterations in white matter tracts.
Main Methods:
- DTI was used to examine 9 children diagnosed with agyria-pachygyria complex.
- Regions of interest were defined in 17 white matter tracts.
- DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity) were compared to healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Patients showed decreased axial diffusivity in the genu of the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, and fornix compared to controls.
- Subcortical white matter exhibited reduced fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity, with increased radial diffusivity.
- These DTI metric changes indicate significant white matter alterations.
Conclusions:
- DTI findings suggest disturbances in both axonal and myelin development in agyria-pachygyria complex.
- Axial diffusivity changes reflect axonal integrity, while radial diffusivity reflects myelin integrity.
- This study highlights the utility of DTI in understanding white matter pathology in complex cortical malformations.
Abstract:
Associated abnormalities of the white matter in patients with agyria-pachygyria complex have rarely been investigated using new imaging modalities like diffusion tensor imaging. The present study evaluated the white matter changes of 9 children with agyria-pachygyria complex using diffusion tensor imaging. Regions of interest were placed in 17 white matter tracts. Compared with normal controls, the axial diffusivity of the genu of the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, and fornix in patients with agyria-pachygyria complex was decreased. In the subcortical white matter without changes in T2-weighted image, there were significant decreases in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity and increases in radial diffusivity, indicating significant alterations of the white matter. Since axial diffusivity and radial diffusivity reflect changes in the axon and myelin, respectively, the findings here indicate disturbance in both axonal and myelin development in agyria-pachygyria complex.
