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Updated: Jul 28, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
White matter microstructural disruption in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a neurite orientation dispersion and
Qiu-Yi Dong1, Jia-Hui Lin1, Ye Wu2
1Department of Radiology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
Purpose:
To evaluate the ability of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) for detecting white matter (WM) microstructural abnormalities in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE).
Methods:
Diffusion-weighted images, enabling the estimation of NODDI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters, were acquired from 20 healthy controls (HC), 22 cirrhotic patients without MHE (NHE), and 15 cirrhotic patients with MHE. Tract-based spatial statistics were used to determine differences in DTI (including fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean/axial/radial diffusivity [MD/AD/RD]) and NODDI parameters (including neurite density index [NDI], orientation dispersion index [ODI], and isotropic volume fraction [ISO]). Voxel-wise analyses of correlations between diffusion parameters and neurocognitive performance determined by Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score (PHES) were completed.
Results:
MHE patients had extensive NDI reduction and rare ODI reduction, primarily involving the genu and body of corpus callosum and the bilateral frontal lobe, corona radiata, external capsule, anterior limb of internal capsule, temporal lobe, posterior thalamic radiation, and brainstem. The extent of NDI and ODI reduction expanded from NHE to MHE. In both MHE and NHE groups, the extent of NDI change was quite larger than that of FA change. No significant intergroup difference in ISO/MD/AD/RD was observed. Tissue specificity afforded by NODDI revealed the underpinning of FA reduction in MHE. The NDI in left frontal lobe was significantly correlated with PHES.
Conclusion:
MHE is characterized by diffuse WM microstructural impairment (especially neurite density reduction). NODDI can improve the detection of WM microstructural impairments in MHE and provides more precise information about MHE-related pathology than DTI.
Insights
Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) detects white matter abnormalities in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). NODDI offers superior detection of MHE-related microstructural impairments compared to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- White Matter Microstructure
- Hepatic Encephalopathy
Background:
- Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) involves subtle white matter (WM) abnormalities.
- Current imaging techniques may not fully capture these microstructural changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) in identifying WM microstructural abnormalities in MHE.
- To compare NODDI's performance against diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
Main Methods:
- Diffusion-weighted imaging was used to acquire NODDI and DTI parameters from healthy controls (HC), cirrhotic patients without MHE (NHE), and MHE patients.
- Tract-based spatial statistics analyzed differences in DTI (FA, MD, AD, RD) and NODDI (NDI, ODI, ISO) parameters.
- Voxel-wise correlation analyses linked diffusion parameters with neurocognitive scores (PHES).
Main Results:
- MHE patients exhibited significant reductions in neurite density index (NDI) and some orientation dispersion index (ODI) reductions, particularly in frontal lobes and corpus callosum.
- NDI and ODI reductions were more extensive in MHE than in NHE patients.
- NODDI revealed greater white matter microstructural changes than DTI, with NDI changes correlating with cognitive performance.
Conclusions:
- Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is associated with widespread white matter microstructural impairment, notably reduced neurite density.
- NODDI enhances the detection of these impairments, providing more specific insights into MHE pathology than DTI.
