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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Diffusion Tensor Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Analysis of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Published on: July 28, 2013
Associations between patterns of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and long-term outcomes in acute
Ikko Ohshiro1, Daerhan Buranbai2, Tohru Okanishi2
1Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, 36-1 Nishi-cho, Yonago, Tottori 683-8504, Japan; Division of Pediatrics, Gifu municipal Hospital, 7-1 Kashima-cho, Gifu, Gifu 500-8513, Japan.
Background:
Acute encephalopathy with biphasic seizures and late reduced diffusion (AESD) is a common pediatric acute encephalopathy characterized by biphasic seizures and development of a bright tree appearance (BTA) on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI). Lesion extent and distribution have been linked to neurological prognosis, but the effects of lesion depth remained unclear.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 25 children with AESD onset between 1991 and 2022. Acute-phase magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (4-14 days after onset) was evaluated using DWI. Lesions in 10 cerebral regions were classified by depth as BTA limited to the subcortical area (BTA-L) or BTA with extension into the deep white matter (BTA-E). Neurological outcomes included pediatric cerebral performance category scores and residual motor paralysis at ≥12 months. Associations between MRI findings and outcomes were analyzed using univariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses.
Results:
Thirteen patients had favorable outcomes, whereas 12 had unfavorable outcomes based on pediatric cerebral performance category scores. Bilateral temporal lobe involvement with BTA-L/E (odds ratio [OR], 16.8), bilateral frontal lobe involvement with BTA-E (OR, 10.0), and bilateral thalamus/basal ganglia lesions (OR, 12.0) showed significant associations with unfavorable outcomes. Residual motor paralysis was associated with lesion burden and distribution. Rolandic BTA-E showed an association with motor paralysis (OR, 90.0), even in unilateral cases. This study should be considered exploratory due to the small sample size and the lack of adjustment for multiple comparisons.
Conclusions:
Acute-phase MRI findings in AESD were associated with long-term neurological outcomes. Lesion distribution and deep white matter extension may serve as potential prognostic factors. Frontal BTA-E and Rolandic BTA-E were associated with cognitive impairment and motor paralysis, respectively.
