Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Advanced Diffusion Imaging in The Hippocampus of Rats with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 14, 2019
Diffusion tensor imaging properties and neurobehavioral outcomes in children with hydrocephalus
W Yuan1, R C McKinstry, J S Shimony
1Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals white matter structure changes in children with hydrocephalus. These alterations correlate with early motor skill deficits, offering insights into the condition's impact.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Neuroimaging
- Developmental neuroscience
Background:
- White matter structural alterations in pediatric hydrocephalus are not well understood.
- Neuropsychological deficits associated with these changes require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To use DTI to detect in vivo white matter alterations in children with acute hydrocephalus.
- To quantify early neuropsychological deficits in this population.
- To explore correlations between neuropsychological deficits and white matter abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- 44 children (24 hydrocephalus, 20 controls) underwent DTI scans.
- DTI indices (FA, MD, AD, RD) were analyzed in specific white matter tracts (gCC, sCC, PLIC, ALIC).
- The Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABAS-II) assessed developmental skills; correlations with DTI were examined.
Main Results:
- Children with hydrocephalus showed reduced FA and increased MD in the corpus callosum (gCC, sCC), linked to increased RD.
- Increased AD was observed in the posterior and anterior internal capsule (PLIC, ALIC).
- Lower general adaptive, conceptual, and motor skills were reported in children with hydrocephalus, with correlations between PLIC DTI indices and motor skills.
Conclusions:
- DTI effectively identifies white matter structural changes in pediatric hydrocephalus.
- Preliminary evidence suggests a link between these white matter abnormalities and clinical motor deficits.
Background And Purpose:
White matter structural alterations and the correlation with neuropsychological deficits in children with hydrocephalus have not been well investigated. In this prospective study, the objectives were the following: 1) to apply DTI to detect in vivo white matter alterations based on diffusion properties in children with acute hydrocephalus, 2) to quantify early neuropsychological deficits, and 3) to explore the correlation between potential neuropsychological deficits and abnormalities in functionally related white matter.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 44 children, 24 with hydrocephalus and 20 controls, were enrolled in the study. DTI indices, FA, MD, AD, and RD, were evaluated in the gCC, sCC, PLIC, and ALIC. The ABAS-II was used as a broad screener of development, including conceptual, social, practical, and motor skills. The correlation between the Motor Scale and DTI indices in the PLIC was analyzed.
Results:
DTI analyses showed that the gCC and sCC in children with hydrocephalus had lower FA and higher MD, driven by the increased RD with statistical significance (P < .05) or trend-level significance (P = .06). The PLIC and ALIC had significantly higher AD in children with hydrocephalus (P < .05). On the ABAS-II, parent ratings of general adaptive skills, conceptual skills, and motor skills were significantly lower in children with hydrocephalus (all at P < .05). The MD and RD values in the PLIC were found to have trend-level or significant correlation with the Motor Scale (P = .057, .041, respectively).
Conclusions:
DTI reveals alterations in the white matter structure in children with hydrocephalus with preliminary findings suggesting correlation with clinical motor deficits.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Brain Imaging
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
01:17Assessment of Diffusion and Perfusion
The Role of Diffusion in Respiration
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. In the respiratory system, this principle...