Topography of the human corpus callosum using diffusion tensor tractography.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the crossing fiber trajectory through the corpus callosum using distortion-corrected diffusion tensor tractography in the human brain.


METHODS
After correcting distortion associated with large-diffusion gradients, T2-weighted echo planar images (EPIs) acquired from 10 right-handed healthy men were coregistered into T2-weighted fast spin echo images using linear through sixth-order nonlinear, 3-dimensional, polynomial warping functions. The optimal transformation parameters were also applied to the distortion-corrected diffusion-weighted EPIs. Diffusion tensor tractography through the corpus callosum was reconstructed, employing the "1 or 2 regions of interest" method.


RESULTS
Compared with the lines through the genu, those through the rostrum ran more inferiorly and seemed to enter the orbital gyrus. Those lines entering posterior temporal white matter (tapetum) crossed through the ventral portion of the splenium and were clearly distinguished from lines that reached parieto-occipital white matter (forceps major).


CONCLUSIONS
Diffusion tensor tractography is a feasible noninvasive tool to evaluate commissural fiber trajectory.
Abe
Osamu
O
Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. abediag-tky@umin.ac.jp
Masutani
Yoshitaka
Y
Aoki
Shigeki
S
Yamasue
Hidenori
H
Yamada
Haruyasu
H
Kasai
Kiyoto
K
Mori
Harushi
H
Hayashi
Naoto
N
Masumoto
Tomohiko
T
Ohtomo
Kuni
K
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D017352:Echo-Planar Imaging; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology