Altered white matter integrity and structural network topology in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: A diffusion...

Area of Science:

• Neuroimaging
• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is linked to gray matter changes.
• The impact of RRD on white matter microstructure and brain network organization is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate white matter microstructure and brain network topology in RRD patients.
• To identify imaging-based biomarkers for RRD.

Main Methods:

• Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) were used to analyze white matter in 40 RRD patients and 36 healthy controls.
• Graph theory quantified structural network topology, and a support vector machine (SVM) classified patients based on imaging features.

Main Results:

• RRD patients showed disrupted white matter networks with reduced small-world properties and altered global efficiency.
• Widespread changes in nodal centrality and efficiency were observed, particularly in frontal, temporal, and occipital lobes.
• Degree centrality (DC) demonstrated high accuracy (AUC 0.9125) in distinguishing RRD patients via SVM.

Conclusions:

• RRD is associated with widespread white matter alterations and central nervous system involvement.
• Degree centrality is a promising biomarker for RRD.
• Findings provide insights into RRD's neural mechanisms and potential for prognosis.