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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Segmental abnormalities of white matter microstructure in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum
Yan Xie1, Shaolong Wu1, Houming Su1
1Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Background:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are different in pathogenesis, but both could lead to white matter (WM) microstructural damage. The aim of this study was to explore the differences in the patterns of WM fiber tract damage in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and NMOSD by automated fiber quantification (AFQ).
Materials And Methods:
Forty-one RRMS patients, 30 NMOSD patients and 30 healthy controls (HC) underwent MRI examination. AFQ was applied to identify and quantify 100 equally spaced nodes of specific WM fiber tracts for each participant. Measurements of fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusion (MD), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) for each segment of a specific fiber tract were compared between RRMS, NMOSD and HC.
Results:
The decrease in FA was found in 7 fiber tracts in entire tract comparison and 9 fiber tracts in pointwise comparison in RRMS patients. However, the FA in left thalamic radiation (TR) and right uncinate fasciculus showed significant differences between RRMS and HC only in the pointwise comparison, but not in the entire tract comparison. The MD, AD and RD of WM fiber tracts in RRMS patients were extensively increased both in the entire level and in the pointwise level. NMOSD patients showed significant FA decrease in left TR and callosum forceps minor (CF_minor), and significant RD increase in CF_minor in the pointwise level. In the pointwise comparison between RRMS and NMOSD, significant FA decrease was found in right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and bilateral inferior longitudinal fasciculus in RRMS patients, focal or widespread MD, AD and RD increase was found in multiple fiber tracts.
Conclusion:
The AFQ approach is a more sensitive way to reflect WM microstructural abnormalities, revealing extensive WM microstructural damage in RRMS and limited WM fiber tract damage in NMOSD.
Insights
Automated fiber quantification reveals extensive white matter damage in multiple sclerosis (MS) and limited damage in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), highlighting differences in disease patterns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuroimmunology
- White Matter Diseases
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are distinct conditions causing white matter (WM) damage.
- Understanding the specific patterns of WM fiber tract damage is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate WM microstructural damage patterns between relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) and NMOSD.
- To assess the utility of automated fiber quantification (AFQ) in detecting these differences.
Main Methods:
- MRI scans were acquired from 41 RRMS patients, 30 NMOSD patients, and 30 healthy controls (HC).
- Automated fiber quantification (AFQ) was employed to analyze 100 nodes along specific WM fiber tracts.
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were quantified.
Main Results:
- RRMS patients exhibited widespread decreases in FA and increases in MD, AD, and RD across multiple WM tracts.
- NMOSD patients showed significant FA decreases in the left thalamic radiation and callosum forceps minor, and increased RD in the callosum forceps minor.
- Pointwise comparisons revealed distinct patterns of FA reduction and diffusivity increases in RRMS compared to NMOSD, particularly in the inferior fronto-occipital and inferior longitudinal fasciculi.
Conclusions:
- Automated fiber quantification (AFQ) is a sensitive technique for detecting WM microstructural abnormalities.
- AFQ demonstrates extensive WM damage in RRMS and more limited, specific fiber tract damage in NMOSD.
- These findings support AFQ as a valuable tool for distinguishing between RRMS and NMOSD.
