Feasibility study of single region lambda chart analysis for pyramidal tract physiology.
Diffusion characteristics of the pyramidal tract were assessed in nine patients who had clinical evidence of pyramidal tract dysfunction, utilizing lambda chart analysis (LCA). The underlying pathologic process of tract dysfunction was varied and included Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), Alexander disease, adrenoleukodystrophy (adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMD) type and cerebral type), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Wallerian degeneration (WD). While pyramidal tract diffusion characteristics in WD indicated a pathological process characterized by replacement of normal fibers by smaller cellular component such as degenerated small fibers and/or gliosis, pyramidal tract diffusion characteristics in patients with PMD, Alexander disease, and adreno leukodystrophy of the cerebral type indicated a pathological process characterized by replacement of normal fibers by larger cellular components such as spheroids or edematous space. Pyramidal tract diffusion characteristics of patients with ALS or adrenoleukodystrophy of AMD type were relatively intact suggesting a pathological process characterized by relatively preserved structural architecture. These findings are highly consistent with known pathophysiological indices and indicate the feasibility of the clinical utility of LCA for assessing pyramidal tract physiology.
Center for Integrated Human Brain Science, Brain Research Institute, University of Niigata, 1 Asahimachi, Niigata 951-8585, Japan.
Yuji
Y
Suzuki
Hitoshi
H
Matsuzawa
Tsutomu
T
Nakada
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values