title: Fully automated detection of corticospinal tract damage in chronic stroke patients.
abstract: Structural integrity of the corticospinal tract (CST) after stroke is closely linked to the degree of motor impairment. However, current methods for measurement of fractional atrophy (FA) of CST based on region of interest (ROI) are time-consuming and open to bias. Here, we used tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) together with a CST template with healthy volunteers to quantify structural integrity of CST automatically. Two groups of patients after ischemic stroke were enrolled, group 1 (10 patients, 7 men, and Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scores ⩽ 50) and group 2 (12 patients, 12 men, and FMA scores = 100). CST of FA(ipsi), FA(contra), and FA(ratio) was compared between the two groups. Relative to group 2, FA was decreased in group 1 in the ipsilesional CST (P < 0.01), as well as the FA(ratio) (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two subgroups in the contralesional CST (P = 0.23). Compared with contralesional CST, FA of ipsilesional CST decreased in group 1 (P < 0.01). These results suggest that the automated method used in our study could detect a surrogate biomarker to quantify the CST after stroke, which would facilitate implementation of clinical practice.
authors: Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Ya-ru
authors: YR
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Hui-jun
authors: HJ
authors: Li
authors: Department of Rehabilitation, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Xue-song
authors: XS
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Yong-mei
authors: YM
authors: Shi
authors: Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Hua-jun
authors: HJ
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Gao-jun
authors: GJ
authors: Teng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001331:Automation; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D009048:Motor Skills; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000473:pathology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers