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Child's Nervous System
Published in: Child's Nervous System 5/2011

01-05-2011 | Original Paper

Cognitive functions correlate with diffusion tensor imaging metrics in patients with spina bifida cystica

Authors: Manoj Kumar, Arti Srivastava, Shruti Agarwal, Sanjay Behari, Gyanendra K. Malik, Ram K. S. Rathore, Rakesh K. Gupta

Published in: Child's Nervous System | Issue 5/2011

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Abstract

Purpose

Spina bifida cystica (SBC) is a group of neurodevelopmental defects caused by improper neural tube closure, which may be responsible for deficits in cognitive functions. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in normal appearing deep gray and white matter brain regions in SBC patients compared with controls through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and correlate these changes with neuropsychometric tests.

Methods

Conventional magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychometric tests were performed on 13 patients and ten controls. DTI-derived fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were quantified in different brain regions in controls and patients.

Results

Significantly decreased FA was observed in caudate nuclei, putamen, genu, splenium, and increased FA was found in middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) in patients compared with controls. We observed significantly increased MD in genu and splenium. However, increased MD was found in fornix of patients compared with controls. Majority of neuropsychological tests were found to be significantly impaired and some of these showed significant correlation with DTI metrics in genu, splenium, and MCP in these patients.

Conclusions

We conclude that DTI metrics are significantly abnormal in deep gray matter nuclei, genu, splenium, and MCP in SBC patients and may provide microstructural basis for neuropsychological abnormalities in these patients.
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Metadata
Title
Cognitive functions correlate with diffusion tensor imaging metrics in patients with spina bifida cystica
Authors
Manoj Kumar
Arti Srivastava
Shruti Agarwal
Sanjay Behari
Gyanendra K. Malik
Ram K. S. Rathore
Rakesh K. Gupta
Publication date
01-05-2011
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Child's Nervous System / Issue 5/2011
Print ISSN: 0256-7040
Electronic ISSN: 1433-0350
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-010-1329-1

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