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Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Corticospinal tract involvement in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: a diffusion tensor imaging study
Bruno Shigueo Yonekura Inada1,2, Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro Rezende3, Fernando Vieira Pereira4
1Division of General Neurology and Ataxia Unit, Department of Neurology, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil. brunosy.inada@gmail.com.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the integrity of the corticospinal tracts (CST) in patients with SCA3 and age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We also looked at the clinical correlates of such diffusivity abnormalities.
Methods:
We assessed 2 cohorts from different Brazilian centers: cohort 1 (n = 29) scanned in a 1.5 T magnet and cohort 2 (n = 91) scanned in a 3.0 T magnet. We used Pearson's coefficients to assess the correlation of CST DTI parameters and ataxia severity (expressed by SARA scores).
Results:
Two different results were obtained. Cohort 1 showed no significant between-group differences in DTI parameters. Cohort 2 showed significant between-group differences in the FA values in the bilateral precentral gyri (p < 0.001), bilateral superior corona radiata (p < 0.001), bilateral posterior limb of the internal capsule (p < 0.001), bilateral cerebral peduncle (p < 0.001), and bilateral basis pontis (p < 0.001). There was moderate correlation between CST diffusivity parameters and SARA scores in cohort 2 (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.40-0.59).
Conclusion:
DTI particularly at 3 T is able to uncover and quantify CST damage in SCA3. Moreover, CST microstructural damage may contribute with ataxia severity in the disease.
