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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
09:33

Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Published on: July 28, 2013

Olfactory function in patients with multiple sclerosis: a diffusion tensor imaging study

Katharina Erb1, Georg Bohner, Lutz Harms

  • 1Department of Radiology, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, 12200 Berlin, Germany. katharina.erb@charite.de

Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|February 21, 2012
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Multiple sclerosis patients show impaired odour identification linked to white matter lesions in the olfactory brain. Diffusion tensor imaging reveals reduced fractional anisotropy in lesions, correlating with olfactory deficits.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is known to cause olfactory disturbances in patients.
  • Understanding the neural basis of these olfactory deficits is crucial for MS management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between olfactory function and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in MS patients.
  • Specifically examining the relationship with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Olfactory performance (threshold, discrimination, identification - TDI score) was assessed in 30 MS patients and 30 controls.
  • Cerebral MRI, including PD- and T2-weighted images, quantified lesion load.
  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measured fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter lesions and normal-appearing brain tissue (NABT).

Main Results:

  • MS patients exhibited significantly poorer normalised TDI and identification (I) scores compared to controls.
  • White matter lesions in MS showed reduced FA (median 0.29) compared to surrounding NABT.
  • Reduced FA in olfactory brain lesions inversely correlated with the odour identification (I) subscore (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

  • A significant inverse relationship exists between impaired odour identification and FA values in the olfactory brain of MS patients.
  • Lesions in areas with high FA values, indicating affected white matter tracts, are strongly associated with reduced odour identification ability.

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