Diffusion tensor MRI visualizes decreased subcortical fiber connectivity in focal cortical dysplasia.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was applied to 12 patients with focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) in frontal or occipital cortex. Fiber tractography was obtained from seeding points in superior longitudinal fasciculus or posterior corona radiata. Mean fractional anisotropy of fiber bundles around the affected cortex was decreased in comparison to the contralateral hemisphere with statistical significance (paired t test, P = 0.0274). On visual analysis, tractography depicted decreased volume of fiber bundles connected to the dysplastic cortex invariably even in those with a normal T2 signal intensity of underlying white matter adjacent to FCD. DTI has high potential to be applied to localize the FCD and to provide a better understanding of the pathological changes in the white matter.
Department of Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchondong, Seodaemungu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
Seung-Koo
SK
Lee
Dong Ik
DI
Kim
Susumu
S
Mori
Jinna
J
Kim
Heung Dong
HD
Kim
Kyoung
K
Heo
Byung In
BI
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity