A new study on diffusion tensor imaging of the whole visual pathway fiber bundle and clinical application.
BACKGROUND
With conventional imaging methods only the morphous of the visual nerve fiber bundles can be demonstrated, while the earlier period functional changes can not be demonstrated. We hypothesized that diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) would demonstrated the whole optic never fiber bundle and visual pathway and the earlier period functional changes. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the application of DTI technique in the demonstration of the whole optic never fiber bundle and visual pathway, and the influence of orbital tumors on them.


METHODS
GE 1.5 T signa HD MR System, and the software package DTV2 were adopted. The total 45 subjects were enrolled, including 15 volunteers and 30 patients. All patients had ocular proptosis from minor to major. Seven patients had visual acuity decrescence.


RESULTS
The nerve fiber bundles, e.g. optic chiasma, optic tract and optic radiation in posterior visual pathway were well demonstrated in all cases. Wherein, the intact whole visual pathway fiber bundles were clearly revealed in 10 volunteers and 17 patients, and optic nerve was not wholly revealed in the rest of the subjects. Shift of optic nerve caused by compression and partial deformation were seen in 7 patients with orbital tumor. In 6 of 7 patients, DTI displayed significant abscise and deformation of visual nerve. Chi-square test indicated significant correlation between visual acuity decrescence and DTI visual nerve non-display.


CONCLUSIONS
Visual nerve fiber bundles and the whole visual pathway were visualized in most of patients with DTI. It might be an effective method of providing imaging evidence for visual nerve fiber earlier period functional changes, and laid a foundation for the study in other cranial nerves.
Tao
Xiao-feng
XF
Department of Imaging, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China. cjr.taoxiaofeng@vip.163.com
Wang
Zhong-qiu
ZQ
Gong
Wan-qing
WQ
Jiang
Qing-jun
QJ
Shi
Zeng-ru
ZR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005094:Exophthalmos / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult