title: Relationship between somatosensory function and the spinothalamocortical pathway in chronic stroke patients.
abstract: Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) allows for identification and evaluation of the spinothalamic tract and its thalamocortical pathway (STP). We attempted to investigate the relationship between tactile sensation and the STP in chronic stroke patients. We measured fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, and tract volume of the STP. The tactile sensation score of the affected side in patients with preserved STP integrity was higher compared with that of patients with an interrupted STP. The remaining volume and integrity of the STP in the affected hemisphere were important factors for tactile sensation of the affected side in chronic patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University , Daegu , Republic of Korea and.
authors.forename: Sung Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Su Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Dong Yeop
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016880:Anisotropy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology*; D013133:Spinothalamic Tracts / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000473:pathology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology*