Diffusivity and diffusion anisotropy of cerebellar peduncles in cases of spinocerebellar degenerative disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study accessed the feasibility of using tractography-based analysis to evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of three cerebellar peduncles in subtypes of spinocerebellar degenerative disease.


METHODS
We examined 7 cases of dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), 4 cases of multiple system atrophy, cerebellar type (MSA-C), 4 cases of late cerebellar cortical atrophy (LCCA) and 8 controls. Diffusion tensor images were obtained, and tractographies of cerebellar peduncles were generated. ADC and FA along the cerebellar peduncles and volume of cerebellar peduncle were measured, and analyses of variance were made among the control and each spinocerebellar degenerative disease groups.


RESULTS
There were statistically significant decrease in FA and volume and increase in ADC values between DRPLA cases and controls in all three cerebellar peduncles. On the other hand, MSA-C cases mainly showed statistically significant decreased FA and volume and increased ADC values in the middle cerebellar peduncle. LCCA cases did not show prominent difference in the three cerebellar peduncles.


CONCLUSIONS
The values of diffusivity and diffusion anisotropy of cerebellar peduncles evaluated by tractography based measurements seem to reflect characteristics of the different types of spinocerebellar degenerative diseases. Tractography-based measurements may be a feasible tool for differential diagnosis of spinocerebellar degenerative disease.
Taoka
Toshiaki
T
Department of Radiology, Nara Medical University, Japan. ttaoka@naramed-u.ac.jp
Kin
Tesseki
T
Nakagawa
Hiroyuki
H
Hirano
Makito
M
Sakamoto
Masahiko
M
Wada
Takeshi
T
Takayama
Katsutoshi
K
Wuttikul
Chatchada
C
Iwasaki
Satoru
S
Ueno
Satoshi
S
Kichikawa
Kimihiko
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016880:Anisotropy; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000473:pathology; D009849:Olivopontocerebellar Atrophies / Q000473:pathology; D013132:Spinocerebellar Degenerations / Q000473:pathology*