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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Advanced diffusion MRI and image texture analysis detect widespread brain structural differences between
Olayinka Oladosu1,2, Wei-Qiao Liu2,3, Lenora Brown2,3
1Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Introduction:
Disease development in multiple sclerosis (MS) causes dramatic structural changes, but the exact changing patterns are unclear. Our objective is to investigate the differences in brain structure locally and spatially between relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and its advanced form, secondary progressive MS (SPMS), through advanced analysis of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and image texture.
Methods:
A total of 20 patients with RRMS and nine patients with SPMS from two datasets underwent 3T anatomical and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The DTI was harmonized, augmented, and then modeled, which generated six voxel- and sub-voxel-scale measures. Texture analysis focused on T2 and FLAIR MRI, which produced two phase-based measures, namely, phase congruency and weighted mean phase. Data analysis was 3-fold, i.e., histogram analysis of whole-brain normal appearing white matter (NAWM); region of interest (ROI) analysis of NAWM and lesions within three critical white matter tracts, namely, corpus callosum, corticospinal tract, and optic radiation; and along-tract statistics. Furthermore, by calculating the z-score of core-rim pathology within lesions based on diffusion measures, we developed a novel method to define chronic active lesions and compared them between cohorts.
Results:
Histogram features from diffusion and all but one texture measure differentiated between RRMS and SPMS. Within-tract ROI analysis detected cohort differences in both NAWM and lesions of the corpus callosum body in three measures of neurite orientation and anisotropy. Along-tract statistics detected cohort differences from multiple measures, particularly lesion extent, which increased significantly in SPMS in posterior corpus callosum and optic radiations. The number of chronic active lesions were also significantly higher (by 5-20% over z-scores 0.5 and 1.0) in SPMS than RRMS based on diffusion anisotropy, neurite content, and diameter.
Conclusion:
Advanced diffusion MRI and texture analysis may be promising approaches for thorough understanding of brain structural changes from RRMS to SPMS, thereby providing new insight into disease development mechanisms in MS.
Insights
Advanced MRI techniques reveal distinct brain structural changes between relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS). These findings offer new insights into multiple sclerosis (MS) disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Radiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes significant brain structural changes, but the precise patterns of alteration between its relapsing-remitting (RRMS) and secondary progressive (SPMS) forms remain unclear.
- Understanding these spatial and local differences is crucial for elucidating MS disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the local and spatial differences in brain structure between RRMS and SPMS using advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and image texture analysis.
- To identify specific imaging biomarkers that differentiate between RRMS and SPMS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3T anatomical and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) from 29 patients (20 RRMS, 9 SPMS).
- Applied harmonized and augmented DTI modeling to generate six voxel- and sub-voxel-scale measures.
- Performed texture analysis on T2 and FLAIR MRI, yielding phase congruency and weighted mean phase measures.
- Conducted histogram analysis, region of interest (ROI) analysis in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and lesions, and along-tract statistics.
- Developed a novel method using z-scores to define and quantify chronic active lesions.
Main Results:
- Histogram features from diffusion and texture analyses differentiated between RRMS and SPMS.
- Within-tract ROI analysis revealed cohort differences in NAWM and lesions within the corpus callosum, particularly in measures of neurite orientation and anisotropy.
- Along-tract statistics showed significant increases in lesion extent in SPMS within the posterior corpus callosum and optic radiations.
- SPMS exhibited a significantly higher number of chronic active lesions compared to RRMS, identified by diffusion anisotropy, neurite content, and diameter.
Conclusions:
- Advanced dMRI and texture analysis are promising tools for comprehensively understanding brain structural changes from RRMS to SPMS.
- These advanced imaging techniques provide novel insights into the mechanisms of MS disease progression.
