Diffusion tensor imaging of the spinal cord: a review

Abstract

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance technique capable of measuring the magnitude and direction of water molecule diffusion in various tissues. The use of DTI is being expanded to evaluate a variety of spinal cord disorders both for prognostication and to guide therapy. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on spinal cord DTI in both animal models and humans in different neurosurgical conditions. DTI of the spinal cord shows promise in traumatic spinal cord injury, cervical spondylotic myelopathy, and intramedullary tumors. However, scanning protocols and image processing need to be refined and standardized.

Illuminating the Brain With X-Rays: Contributions and Future Perspectives of High-Resolution Microtomography to Neuroscience

“…As another widely used imaging approach in several fields of science, from bench to the bedside, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also part of the group of methods used for the study of the nervous system, in its three dimensions. Today, MRI can provide numerous contrast modes for various analyses starting at the anatomical contrast between white and gray substances in the central nervous system to tractography or diffusion tensor imaging ( Vedantam et al, 2013 ) to visualize nerve tracts within the brain. The applicability of this technique directly relates to obtaining 2D and 3D structural or functional scanned images of the tissue ( Bernard et al, 1988 , 2016 ; Kuehne et al, 2004 ).…”

Mri Evaluation of Spinal Cord Tumours With Histopathological Correlation

“…DTI uses a tensor framework to characterise molecular motion in multiple directions in a three-dimensional space. 22,23 Tumour mass is characterised by a decrease in Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and increase in Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC). Fiber tracking is especially useful in solid tumours to delineate displaced white matter tracts.…”

“…Advanced DWI and DTI techniques have allowed for better delineation of these tumours and improve characterisation of tumour tissue. 22,23 Overall, the use of tractography shows much promise in the surgical planning of spinal cord tumours as it has in brain tumour resection. 22,23,24,25,26 MR spectroscopy enables the determination of metabolite concentrations in a predefined region of interest in the human body.…”

Estudio del efecto del polipirrol dopado con yodo, sintetizado por plasma, en ratoas con lesión crónica de médula espinal, por medio de MRI

“…Fue desarrollada de otra técnica para obtener imágenes, conocida como ponderada en difusión (DWI, por sus siglas en inglés), la cual mide la atenuación de las señales debido a la difusión. (Vedantam 2013).…”

“…Figura 1.16 Movimiento isotrópico (A) Difusión restringida, se eleva el valor de FA (B y C) (Grover 2015). Figura 1.17 Ecuaciones para los índices FA y ADC (Vedantam 2013). Figura 1.18 Ejemplos de Tractografías: Haz de fibras corticoespinales en azul con un poco de fibras dispersas (A).…”