title: Diffusion tensor fiber tractography of the olfactory tract.
abstract: Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging with fiber tracking is used for 3-dimensional visualization of the nervous system. Peripheral nerves and all cranial nerves, except for the olfactory tract, have previously been visualized. The olfactory tracts are difficult to depict with diffusion-weighted imaging due to the high sensitivity to susceptibility artifacts at the base of the skull. Here we report an optimized single-shot diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging sequence that can visualize the olfactory tracts with fiber tracking. Five healthy individuals were examined, and the olfactory tracts could be fiber tracked with the diffusion-weighted sequence. For comparison and as a negative control, an anosmic patient was examined. No olfactory tracts were visualized on T2-weighted nor diffusion-weighted fiber tracking images. Measuring diffusion in the olfactory tracts promise to facilitate the identification of different hyposmic and anosmic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. mikael.skorpil@ki.se
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skorpil
authors.forename: Tyler
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rolheiser
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundin
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svenningsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000473:pathology*; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity