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Updated: May 12, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
[The relationship between the severity of periventricular leukomalacia and the fractional anisotropy values of
Toshihiko Suzuki1, Hiroyuki Kidokoro, Tetsuo Kubota
1Department of Pediatrics, Anjo Kosei Hospital, Anjo, Aichi. g990057btoshi@yahoo.co.jp
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can quantitatively assess periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) severity in children. Lower fractional anisotropy (FA) values in DTI correlate with more severe PVL and poorer motor function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neurology
- White Matter Diseases
Context:
- Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is a common form of white matter injury in preterm infants.
- Conventional MRI has limitations in quantifying the extent and severity of PVL.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) offers advanced insights into white matter microstructure.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between fractional anisotropy (FA) values derived from DTI and the severity of PVL in children.
- To compare the utility of region-of-interest (ROI) and tractography-based DTI measurements in assessing PVL.
- To explore the correlation between DTI-derived FA values and motor abilities in children with PVL.
Summary:
- DTI was performed on 16 children with PVL, analyzing FA values using ROI and tractography.
- Severe PVL groups showed significantly reduced FA in parietal and occipital white matter regions.
- Lower FA values correlated with impaired motor function (inability to stand) and more extensive PVL.
Impact:
- DTI-based FA measurements provide a quantitative method for evaluating PVL severity.
- DTI enhances the understanding of PVL pathophysiology beyond conventional MRI capabilities.
- This technique may aid in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in affected children.
Objective:
We performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in children with periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) to quantify the relationship between the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of DTI and the severity of PVL.
Methods:
In this study, we performed DTI in 16 children (seven males, nine females) with PVL. To evaluate the FA values, we used region-of-interest (ROI) measurements and tractography-based measurements. We classified the patients into two groups based on the severity of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings: the mild group had white matter injury limited to a triangular zone around the lateral ventricle (n = 9) and the severe group had it extended forward (n = 7). Then, we performed ROI measurements for these two groups to evaluate the FA values. We also divided the patients into two groups based on their motor ability :those that could (n = 10) and could not (n = 6) stand. We used tractography-based measurements to evaluate the FA values. To reduce the bias caused by age, we divided the patients into two groups: those younger than 3 years and those 3 years of age and older. All data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results:
In the ROI measurements, regardless of age, the severe group showed a more significant FA reduction in the white matter of the parietal and occipital lobes, including the middle/posterior part of the centrum ovale, superior longitudinal fasciculus, arcuate fascicullus, and thalamic radiation. In the tractography-based measurements, regardless of age, the measured FA values were significantly lower in the group that could not stand.
Conclusions:
This study suggested that the measured FA values could be used to evaluate the severity of PVL quantitatively, and that DTI provides much more information for understanding the pathophysiology of PVL, as compared with conventional MRI.
