Diffusion Tensor Tractography Studies for Causes of Dysphagia After Stroke: A Systematic Review

Background/Objectives: This systematic review aimed to investigate the causes of dysphagia after stroke through diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) studies. Methods: This review used databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Keywords related to stroke, dysphagia, and diffusion tensor tractography were utilized. Seven studies were selected and analyzed. Results: The analysis identified that damage to the corticobulbar tract (CBT) was the most frequently reported cause of dysphagia. Additionally, some studies suggested that damage to the vestibulospinal tract (VST) and the core vestibular pathway (CVP) contributed to dysphagia. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was found between dysphagia severity and key DTT-derived metrics, such as lower fractional anisotropy (FA) and tract volume (TV), indicating that reduced FA and TV values are associated with more severe dysphagia symptoms. Conclusions: DTT provides valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying dysphagia after stroke. Identifying the affected tracts can help diagnose dysphagia more accurately and develop targeted rehabilitation strategies.