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Updated: Jul 29, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Changes in diffusion tensor imaging indices in basal ganglia and thalamus of patients with Relapsing-Remitting
Mohammad Amiri1, Reza Gerami2, Babak Shekarchi2
1Faculty of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is recognized as the most prevalent autoimmune abnormality of the CNS. T1WI, T2WI, and FLAIR are limited in the quantification of tissue damage and detection of tissue alterations in white and grey matter in MS. This study aimed to the evaluation of changes in DTI indices in these patients at the thalamus and basal ganglia.
Methods:
30 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) cases and 30 normal individuals were included. Conventional MRI (T2, FLAIR) was acquired to confirm NAGM in MS patients. A T1 MPRAGE protocol was used to normalize DTI images. FSL, SPM, and Explore DTI software were employed to reach Mean Diffusivities (MD), Axial Diffusivities (AD), Fractional anisotropy (FA), and Radial Diffusivity (RD) at the thalamus and the basal ganglia.
Results:
The FA and RD of the thalamus were decreased in healthy controls compared to MS cases (0.319 vs. 0.296 and 0.0009 vs. 0.0006, respectively) (P < 0.05). The AD value in the thalamus and the FA value in the caudate nucleus were significantly lower in MS cases than in controls (0.0009 vs. 0.0011 and 0.16 vs. 0.18, respectively) (P < 0.05). MD values in the thalamus or basal ganglia were not significantly different between groups.
Conclusions:
DTI measures including FA, RD, and AD have a good diagnostic performance in detecting microstructural changes in the normal-appearing thalamus in cases with RRMS while they had no significant relationship with clinical signs in terms of EDSS.
Availability Of Data And Material:
Not applicable.
Insights
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals microstructural changes in the thalamus of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. These DTI measures show promise in diagnosing normal-appearing white matter abnormalities in relapsing-remitting MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS).
- Conventional MRI techniques like T1WI, T2WI, and FLAIR have limitations in quantifying tissue damage and detecting alterations in white and grey matter in MS.
- This study focuses on evaluating changes in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices within the thalamus and basal ganglia in MS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in DTI indices (Mean Diffusivities, Axial Diffusivities, Fractional Anisotropy, Radial Diffusivity) in the thalamus and basal ganglia of patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS).
- To assess the diagnostic performance of DTI measures in detecting microstructural alterations in normal-appearing white matter in RRMS.
- To investigate the relationship between DTI findings and clinical disability scores (EDSS).
Main Methods:
- Included 30 RRMS patients and 30 healthy controls.
- Acquired conventional MRI (T2, FLAIR) and DTI using a T1 MPRAGE protocol for normalization.
- Utilized FSL, SPM, and Explore DTI software to calculate DTI indices (MD, AD, FA, RD) in the thalamus and basal ganglia.
Main Results:
- Decreased Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Radial Diffusivity (RD) were observed in the thalamus of MS patients compared to controls.
- Lower Axial Diffusivity (AD) in the thalamus and lower FA in the caudate nucleus were found in MS cases versus controls.
- No significant differences in Mean Diffusivity (MD) were detected in the thalamus or basal ganglia between the groups.
Conclusions:
- DTI measures (FA, RD, AD) demonstrate good diagnostic performance for detecting microstructural changes in the normal-appearing thalamus in RRMS.
- DTI findings showed no significant correlation with clinical disability as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).
