title: Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging in children with language impairment.
abstract: We evaluated the integrity of the white matter tract using diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging in children with language impairments who exhibited a structurally normal brain on conventional magnetic resonance imaging, and compared it with age-matched normal children. After generating fractional anisotropy and color-coded vector maps, fractional anisotropy values of the major white matter tracts were measured in six locations and compared between the two groups. Compared with the normal control group, the fractional anisotropy values of children with language impairments showed a statistically significant reduction in the genu of the corpus callosum, which is rarely revealed on conventional magnetic resonance images. Our results suggest that delayed maturation of the white matter plays a partial role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of language impairments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Wook
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang-Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun Sook
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hyang-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seung-Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Ik
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D016880:Anisotropy; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male