title: Diffusion tensor imaging for anatomical and quantitative evaluation of the anterior cruciate ligament and ACL grafts: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and ACL graft could be imaged using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and to provide the DTI metrics for ACL and grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Magnetic resonance imaging and DTI were performed in 40 healthy volunteers and 15 patients with ACL reconstruction. Fiber tracking and other postprocessing steps were performed on the workstation. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of ACL and grafts were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The courses of ACL and grafts were analyzed quantitatively using FA and ADC, and tractography illustrated nicely the 3-dimensional courses of the fiber bundles and corresponded well to the known anatomy. There was no significant difference in the mean FA and ADC values of the sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion tensor imaging can be used to image and visualize the structure of ACL and ACL grafts.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of *Radiology, and †Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, PRC. †Orthopedic Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, PRC.
authors.forename: Xianfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dongyang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dongquan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zhengyang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction; D064592:Autografts / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult