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European Radiology
Published in: European Radiology 5/2012

01-05-2012 | Neuro

Diffusion tensor imaging applications in multiple sclerosis patients using 3T magnetic resonance: a preliminary study

Authors: Lorenzo Testaverde, Laura Caporali, Eugenio Venditti, Giovanni Grillea, Claudio Colonnese

Published in: European Radiology | Issue 5/2012

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Abstract

Objectives

This study evaluated patients with multiple sclerosis using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to obtain fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values.

Methods

We investigated the possible statistically significant variation of MD and FA in different MS patients, compared simultaneously, putting in comparison their normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and white matter affected by disease (plaques), both during activity and in remission, with normal white matter (NWM) of control subjects.

Results

Statistical analysis using Levene’s test for comparison of variances revealed significant (P < 0.05) differences between FA values of the NWM of the controls and those of NAWM and active or inactive lesions, of the patients in the study. However, the differences between MD values of the NWM of the controls and those of NAWM and active or inactive lesions of the patients in the study were judged not significant (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Imaging of MS using MRI techniques is constantly searching for reproducible quantitative parameter. This study shows how these parameters can be identified in the MD and FA values, and thus suggests the implementation of MRI routine protocols for diagnosing MS with the DTI analysis, since it can provide valuable information otherwise unobtainable.

Key Points

  • Magnetic resonance imaging is widely performed in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients
  • Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be implemented using a 3T magnet
  • DTI provides quantitative parameters as mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA)
  • MD and, especially, FA can help evaluate the lesion load in MS patients and also assess variation in normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in MS
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Metadata
Title
Diffusion tensor imaging applications in multiple sclerosis patients using 3T magnetic resonance: a preliminary study
Authors
Lorenzo Testaverde
Laura Caporali
Eugenio Venditti
Giovanni Grillea
Claudio Colonnese
Publication date
01-05-2012
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Radiology / Issue 5/2012
Print ISSN: 0938-7994
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1084
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-011-2342-9

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