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Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Comprehensive Autopsy Program for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Published on: July 19, 2019
Sensitivity of multi-shell NODDI to multiple sclerosis white matter changes: a pilot study
Abstract:
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is sensitive to white matter (WM) damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), not only in focal lesions but also in the normal-appearing WM (NAWM). However, DTI indices can also be affected by natural spatial variation in WM, as seen in crossing and dispersing white matter fibers. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) is an advanced diffusion-weighted imaging technique that provides distinct indices of fiber density and dispersion. We performed NODDI of lesion tissue and NAWM in five MS patients and five controls, comparing the technique with traditional DTI. Both DTI and NODDI identified tissue damage in NAWM and in lesions. NODDI was able to detect additional changes and it provided better contrast in MS-NAWM microstructure, because it distinguished orientation dispersion and fiber density better than DTI. We showed that NODDI is viable in MS patients and that it offers, compared with DTI parameters, improved sensitivity and possibly greater specificity to microstructure features such as neurite orientation.
Insights
Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) offers improved sensitivity and specificity for detecting white matter damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients compared to traditional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). NODDI better distinguishes microstructural changes in normal-appearing white matter and lesions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Neurology
Background:
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) detects white matter (WM) damage in multiple sclerosis (MS), including normal-appearing WM (NAWM).
- DTI indices can be confounded by natural WM variations like crossing fibers.
- Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) offers distinct measures of fiber density and dispersion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of NODDI with DTI in characterizing WM microstructural changes in MS patients.
- To assess NODDI's viability and sensitivity in detecting MS-related tissue damage.
Main Methods:
- Performed NODDI and DTI on lesion tissue and NAWM in five MS patients and five controls.
- Compared DTI indices with NODDI-derived measures of neurite orientation and density.
Main Results:
- Both DTI and NODDI identified WM damage in MS lesions and NAWM.
- NODDI revealed additional microstructural changes not detected by DTI.
- NODDI provided better contrast in MS-NAWM by differentiating orientation dispersion and fiber density.
Conclusions:
- NODDI is a viable neuroimaging technique for MS patients.
- NODDI demonstrates improved sensitivity and potentially greater specificity than DTI for detecting microstructural alterations in MS white matter.
