ADC evaluation of the corticospinal tract in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived from diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) provide important information about tissues. The goal of this study was to evaluate the ADC values in the corticospinal tract regions in multiple sclerosis (MS). The ADC values of 42 patients with multiple sclerosis and 46 healthy people were measured. The ADC values in the corticospinal tract at the capsula interna posterior crus from six points and mesencephalon from three points bilaterally in MS patients were compared with those of controls. An ANOVA post hoc test was used to analyse the differences in mean ADC values between the MS and control groups. The mean ADC values of the right (p = 0.008) and left internal capsules (p = 0.000) and right (p = 0.002) and left mesencephalons (p = 0.044) in MS patients were significantly lower than in the control group. There was no significant difference between the right and left side ADC values in MS (p = 0.313 vs. p = 0.223) and control groups (p = 0.756 vs. p = 0.105), respectively. The mean ADC values of the corticospinal tract in MS patients were significantly lower than in the control group. This decreased diffusion may be the result of cellular infiltration due to inflammation, cytotoxic oedema, demyelination or remyelination processes.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome-associated Encephalopathy Successfully Treated with Corticosteroids

“…It has been reported that some patients with multiple sclerosis or mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesions showed hyperintensity on DWI and decreased ADC values-this was true in our case ( 14 , 15 ). The mechanisms underlying the transient reduction of diffusion in patients with these inflammatory diseases may be related to intramyelinic edema, interstitial edema, and the infiltration of inflammatory cells ( 14 , 16 ). Thus, the DWI and ADC abnormalities may be related to these mechanisms.…”

Evaluation of the optic nerve using strain and shear wave elastography in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy subjects

“…Of these sites, the optic nerve is the best described, because inflammatory demyelinating optic neuritis may be the initial presenting feature in patients with MS [5,6]. Conventional and non-conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as diffusion tensor imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and magnetization transfer imaging are used for the diagnosis of optic neuritis [7][8][9][10][11]. However, MRI examinations are time consuming, expensive, less available and often require the use of gadolinium contrast.…”

Restriction spectrum imaging of white matter and its relation to neurological disability in multiple sclerosis

“…In MS, the diffusion MRI has been used to investigate differences between various types of lesions 7 or lesions and normal appearing white matter (NAWM), 8 between MS patients and healthy controls, 9,10 as well as to study diffusion parameters in relation to clinical measures. [10][11][12] However, the results of DWI and DTI studies in relation to neurological disability in MS are not consistent.…”