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Diffusion Tensor Tractography of the Cerebellar Peduncles in Prematurely Born 7-Year-Old Children

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to correlate neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm-born children and their perinatal clinical and imaging characteristics with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of the three cerebellar peduncles at age 7. Included in this prospective longitudinal study were 140 preterm-born children (<30 weeks gestation) who underwent neurodevelopmental assessment (IQ, motor, language, working memory) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at age 7 years. White matter tracts in the superior, middle, and inferior cerebellar peduncles were delineated using regions of interest drawn on T2-weighted images and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps. Diffusion measures (mean diffusivity (MD) and FA) and tract volumes were calculated. Linear regression was used to assess relationships with outcome. The severity of white matter injury in the neonatal period was associated with lower FA in the right superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) and lower tract volumes of both SCPs and middle cerebellar peduncles (MCPs). In the MCP, higher IQ was associated with lower MD in the whole group and higher FA in right-handed children. In the SCP, lower motor scores were associated with higher MD and higher language scores were associated with higher FA. These associations remained significant in multivariable models. This study adds to the body of literature detailing the importance of cerebellar involvement in cognitive function related to reciprocal connections with supratentorial structures.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (Centre for Clinical Research Excellence 546519 to LD, PA, TI; Centre for Research Excellence 1060733 to LD, PA; Project grants 237117 to LD, 491209 to PA; Senior Research Fellowships 628371 & 1081288 to PA), United Cerebral Palsy Foundation (USA), Leila Y. Mathers Charitable Foundation (USA), the Brown Foundation (USA), the Victorian Government’s Operational Infrastructure Support Program, The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation, National Institute of Health R01HD058056, UL1 TR000448 and K02NS089852, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. We would like to thank Dr Deanne Thompson for reviewing the manuscript and Dr Lena Novack for statistical guidance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Soroka Medical Center, P.O. Box 151, 84101, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Eilon Shany

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

    Eilon Shany & Sharon Goshen

  3. Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Terrie E. Inder

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Iris Lee & Christopher D. Smyser

  5. Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Jeffrey J. Neil

  6. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Christopher D. Smyser

  7. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

    Lex W. Doyle

  8. Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Lex W. Doyle & Peter J. Anderson

  9. Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Lex W. Doyle & Peter J. Anderson

  10. Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Christopher D. Smyser & Joshua S. Shimony

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  1. Eilon Shany
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Shany, E., Inder, T.E., Goshen, S. et al. Diffusion Tensor Tractography of the Cerebellar Peduncles in Prematurely Born 7-Year-Old Children. Cerebellum 16, 314–325 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-016-0796-7

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