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Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
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Structural MRI and tract-based spatial statistical analysis of diffusion tensor imaging in children with
Tae Yeon Jeon1, Andrew V Poliakov2, Seth D Friedman2
1Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. hathor97.jeon@samsung.com.
Neuroradiology
|July 12, 2020
Summary
Hemimegalencephaly (HMEG) involves gross white matter abnormalities and widespread microstructural changes in both affected and unaffected brain hemispheres. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals these alterations, suggesting broader network involvement in HMEG.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Pediatric Neurology
- White Matter Diseases
Background:
- Hemimegalencephaly (HMEG) is a rare congenital brain malformation.
- Understanding white matter abnormalities in HMEG is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
- Structural and microstructural changes impact neurological function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate gross white matter abnormalities using structural MRI in children with HMEG.
- To assess white matter microstructural alterations with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS).
- To compare affected and contralateral hemispheres in HMEG patients and with controls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of brain MR images from 20 children with HMEG (2 days-16.5 years).
- DTI analysis performed on 12 HMEG patients and 12 matched controls.
- TBSS analysis used to evaluate white matter tracts and fractional anisotropy (FA) differences.
Main Results:
- Gross white matter abnormalities observed in 100% of affected and 20% of contralateral hemispheres in HMEG.
- Significantly decreased FA values in both hemispheres of HMEG patients compared to controls (P < 0.05).
- Contralateral hemispheres in HMEG showed reduced FA compared to affected hemispheres (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- HMEG presents with significant gross and microstructural white matter abnormalities.
- DTI reveals widespread alterations in both affected and contralateral hemispheres, indicating broader network involvement.
- Findings suggest HMEG impacts neuronal networks beyond the visibly enlarged hemisphere.
