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Quantifying the pattern of optic tract degeneration in human hemianopia
Rebecca S Millington1, Clarissa L Yasuda, Panitha Jindahra
1Oxford Centre for functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB), University of Oxford, , Oxford, UK.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|October 29, 2013
Summary
Transsynaptic retrograde degeneration (TRD) occurs in the optic tract (OT) in hemianopia. Degeneration severity correlates with visual field loss, especially in congenital cases, aiding rehabilitation predictions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Transsynaptic retrograde degeneration (TRD) is known in the human visual system.
- Factors influencing TRD, like lesion characteristics, require quantification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the dependence of optic tract (OT) degeneration on lesion factors in hemianopia.
- To investigate the relationship between lesion characteristics, visual field deficit, and TRD.
Main Methods:
- Acquired T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted MRI scans from 26 hemianopia patients and 12 controls.
- Defined and measured the optic tract (OT) and assessed degeneration by comparing hemispheres.
Main Results:
- OT degeneration was present in all patients, irrespective of lesion location.
- Larger acquired lesions correlated with greater TRD, but congenital cases showed more degeneration than predicted by size.
- Visual field deficit size was a strong predictor of TRD across all patients.
- T1-weighted imaging provided a better measure of degeneration than diffusion-weighted imaging.
Conclusions:
- TRD of the OT occurs in both acquired and congenital hemianopia and correlates with visual field loss.
- Congenital hemianopia cases exhibit more severe TRD.
- Understanding TRD patterns can inform visual rehabilitation strategies.
