Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Changes in integrity of normal-appearing white matter in patients with moyamoya disease: a diffusion tensor imaging
1Departments of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Background And Purpose:
DTI is widely used for the evaluation of white matter integrity in various neurologic diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in white matter integrity by using DTI in NAWM of patients with MMD and to evaluate the correlation between diffusion and perfusion characteristics through an interhemispheric comparison.
Materials And Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed 20 primary MMD patients with asymmetric disease stage and 20 age-matched healthy controls. FA(CS) and ADC(CS) values of bilateral centrum semiovale were measured by using region of interest analysis. Mean FA(CS) and ADC(CS) were compared between patient and control groups by unpaired t test. Interhemispheric differences in FA(CS) and ADC(CS) were assessed and compared between the H-TTP(delayed) and the H-TTP(shorter) by using paired t test. AIs also were assessed to verify interhemispheric differences.
Results:
The patient group showed a significantly lower mean FA(CS) and a higher mean ADC(CS) value than the control group. In the patient group, the H-TTP(delayed) had a significantly lower FA(CS) and higher ADC(CS) value than the H-TTP(shorter). Both AI(FA) and AI(ADC) were significantly higher in the patient compared with the control group.
Conclusions:
DTI can describe subtle changes in white matter integrity in NAWM of patients with primary MMD that are not detected by conventional MR imaging. In addition, diffusion characteristics are well correlated with perfusion characteristics. We believe that DTI is a useful ancillary tool to evaluate patients with MMD.
Insights
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) reveals white matter changes in Moyamoya disease (MMD) patients. DTI findings correlate with perfusion characteristics, aiding MMD evaluation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- White Matter Diseases
Background:
- Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is crucial for assessing white matter integrity in neurological conditions.
- Moyamoya disease (MMD) is characterized by cerebrovascular changes affecting white matter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate white matter integrity changes in Normal Appearing White Matter (NAWM) of MMD patients using DTI.
- To correlate diffusion and perfusion characteristics via interhemispheric comparison in MMD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 20 MMD patients and 20 controls.
- Region of interest analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the centrum semiovale.
- Interhemispheric comparison of diffusion metrics and asymmetry indices (AIs).
Main Results:
- MMD patients exhibited significantly lower mean FA and higher mean ADC values compared to controls.
- Delayed hemisphere (H-TTP delayed) showed lower FA and higher ADC than the shorter hemisphere (H-TTP shorter).
- Asymmetry indices for both FA and ADC were significantly higher in MMD patients.
Conclusions:
- DTI detects subtle white matter integrity changes in MMD's NAWM, undetectable by conventional MRI.
- Diffusion characteristics demonstrated a strong correlation with perfusion characteristics.
- DTI serves as a valuable ancillary tool for evaluating MMD patients.
