Advanced

AJNR - American Journal of Neuroradiology

Published ahead of print on April 24, 2008
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A1097

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: ajnr.A1097v1 29/7/1261    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via CrossRef Google Scholar Articles by Ding, X.-Q. Articles by Fiehler, J. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ding, X.-Q. Articles by Fiehler, J.

American Journal of Neuroradiology 29:1261-1265, August 2008
© 2008 American Society of Neuroradiology

PEDIATRICS

Evidence of Rapid Ongoing Brain Development Beyond 2 Years of Age Detected by Fiber Tracking

X.-Q. Ding^a,b, Y. Sun^a, H. Braaß^a, T. Illies^a, H. Zeumer^a, H. Lanfermann^b and J. Fiehler^a

^a Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
^b Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

Please address correspondence to: Xiao-Qi Ding, PhD, MD, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; e-mail: Ding.Xiaoqi{at}mh-hannover.de

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Development of callosal fibers is important for psychomotor and cognitive functions. We hypothesized that brain maturation changes are detectable beyond 2 years of age by using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the corpus callosum (CC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: T2 and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps of the brain of 55 healthy subjects between 0.2 and 39 years of age were obtained. Quantitative T2 and FA values were measured at the genu and splenium of the CC (gCC and sCC). Fiber tracking, volumetric determination, and the fiber density calculations of the CC were related to age. A paired t test was used for significant differences between the values at the gCC and sCC.

RESULTS: T2 relaxation times at gCC and sCC decrease fast in the first months of life and very little after 2 years of age. The FAgCC increases until 5 years of age and remains nearly constant thereafter; it showed a significant increase from 0 to 2 years versus 2–5 years, whereas there was no difference in the other age groups. FAsCC values showed no significant changes after 2 years of age. The fiber density of the CC shows a tendency of inverse age dependence from childhood to adulthood.

CONCLUSION: Rapid ongoing changes in brain maturation (increase in FAgCC) are detectable until 5 years of age. DTI reveals more information about brain maturation than T2 relaxometry.