Clinical Use of Diffusion-Tensor Imaging for Diseases Causing Neuronal and Axonal Damage
Aziz M. Ulu
,a,
David F. Moorea,
Aviva S. Bojkoa and
Robert D. Zimmermana
a From the Departments of Radiology (A.M.U., R.Z.) and Neurology (D.F.M., A.S.B.), Cornell University Medical College-New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York.
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FIG 1. Diffusion map Dav shows the regions of interest (boxes) in the PLIC and adjacent white matter. Regions of interests were placed from posterior to anterior. Results of the measurements are summarized in Table 1
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FIG 2. Diffusion anisotropy measurements following the corticospinal fiber tract in case 2. Measurements from 16 sections are shown. Sections are 5 mm thick with no gap between sections. Section 1 is the most inferior section. The diffusion anisotropy decreased bilaterally in the pons (sections 7–10) and parts of the medulla (sections 5 and 6) (see fig 3 for the locations of the axial sections)
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FIG 4. Case 3.
A, T2-weighted MR image shows a subacute hematoma in the right basal ganglia with associated vasogenic edema.
B, T2-weighted echo-planar image (the B0 image from the diffusion sequence) at the next most inferior section shows the caudal edge of the hematoma. Note the slightly increased signal of the PLIC bilaterally (arrows).
C, An average diffusion map (Dav) reveals increased diffusion in the vasogenic edema adjacent to the hematoma. The right and left PLIC show no evidence of abnormal diffusion.
D, Diffusion anisotropy map (UAsurf) reveals hyperintensity in normal white matter tracts, including the splenium of the corpus callosum, optic radiations, and left PLIC (arrows). This increased signal represents the high degree of anisotropy of normal white matter tracts. The right PLIC is not visible owing to decreased anisotropy.
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