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American Journal of Neuroradiology 27:1009-1015, May 2006
© 2006 American Society of Neuroradiology

BRAIN

Diffusion Tensor Imaging in the Assessment of Normal-Appearing Brain Tissue Damage in Relapsing Neuromyelitis Optica

C.S. Yu^a, F.C. Lin^c, K.C. Li^a, T.Z. Jiang^c, C.Z. Zhu^c, W. Qin^a, H. Sun^b and P. Chan^b

^a Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences
^b Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences
^c National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Address correspondence to Kun Cheng Li, MD, Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, No. 45, Chang-Chun St, Xuanwu District, Beijing 100053, China

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Normal-appearing brain tissue (NABT) damage was established in multiple sclerosis by histology, MR spectroscopy, magnetization transfer imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). However, whether this phenomenon can be detected in relapsing neuromyelitis optica (RNMO) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to use DTI to investigate the presence of NABT damage in RNMO patients and its possible mechanism.

METHODS: Conventional MR imaging and DTI scans were performed in 16 patients with RNMO without visible lesions on brain MR imaging and in 16 sex- and age-matched healthy control subjects. Histogram analysis of mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) was performed in the entire brain tissue (BT), white matter (WM), and gray matter (GM). Region of interest (ROI) analysis of MD and FA was also performed in WM regions connected with the spinal white matter tracts or optic nerve (including medulla oblongata, cerebral peduncle, internal capsule, and optic radiation), in corpus callosum without direct connection with them, and in some GM regions.

RESULTS: From histogram analysis, we found the RNMO group had a higher average MD of the BT, WM, and GM, a lower average MD peak height and a higher average MD peak location of the GM, and a higher average FA peak height of the WM than did the control group. From ROI analysis, compared with control subjects, RNMO patients had a higher average MD and a lower average FA in ROIs of WM connected with the spinal white matter tracts or optic nerve and a normal average MD and FA in corpus callosum without direct connection with them. In addition, a high average MD was found in parietal GM in these patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm the presence of abnormal diffusion in brain tissue in patients with RNMO and suggest that secondary degeneration caused by lesions in the spinal cord and optic nerve might be an important mechanism for this abnormality.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Yu, F. Lin, K. Li, T. Jiang, W. Qin, H. Sun, and P. Chan Pathogenesis of Normal-appearing White Matter Damage in Neuromyelitis Optica: Diffusion-Tensor MR Imaging Radiology, December 1, 2007; 246(1): 222 - 228. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Yu, C. Z. Zhu, K. C. Li, Y. Xuan, W. Qin, H. Sun, and P. Chan Relapsing Neuromyelitis Optica and Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Differentiation at Diffusion-Tensor MR Imaging of Corpus Callosum Radiology, July 1, 2007; 244(1): 249 - 256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]