Diffusion tensor imaging of the subcortical auditory tract in subjects with long-term unilateral sensorineural hearing loss.
Several indices including axial diffusivity (lambda(II)), radial diffusivity (lambda[see symbol in text]), mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (FA) along the auditory pathway were extracted from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance images in 19 patients with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Two regions of interest were selected bilaterally for evaluation: the lateral lemniscus and inferior colliculus. A significant decrease was observed in FA on the contralateral side in patients with SNHL due to an increase in lambda(II) while lambda[see symbol in text] remained unchanged. Although the orientation of neural fibers along the subcortical auditory pathway appeared to be intact, the reduction in FA and increase in lambda[see symbol in text] on the contralateral side might be attributed to axonal loss and/or demyelination.
Wu
Che-Ming
CM
Department of Otolaryngology, Chang-Gang Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang-Gang University, Linkou, Taiwan.
Ng
Shu-Hang
SH
Liu
Tien-Chen
TC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007245:Inferior Colliculi / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult