title: Diffusion tensor imaging of the spinal cord.
abstract: The spinal cord is an important part of the nervous system and provides the connection of the brain with the periphery. It consists not only of a large number of longitudinal fibers, but also contains collateral fibers and a central gray matter structure, which are part of autonomous circuits. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging can reveal this complex fiber architecture in great detail. This report summarizes the normal findings for ADC, diffusion anisotropy, and diffusion eigenvector directions in the spinal cord. Sagittal and axial diffusion-weighted images of the spinal cord were obtained with line scan diffusion imaging (LSDI) in adults, children, infants, and a spinal cord specimen.
authors.affiliation: Radiology (MRI), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. stephan@bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Stephan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Hatsuho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mamata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016880:Anisotropy; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology