title: Distinguishing and quantification of the human visual pathways using high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor tractography.
abstract: Quantification of the living human visual system using MRI methods has been challenging, but several applications demand a reliable and time-efficient data acquisition protocol. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor fiber tractography (DTT) in reconstructing and quantifying the human visual pathways. Five healthy males, age range 24-37years, were studied after approval of the institutional review board (IRB) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. We acquired diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 1-mm slice thickness on a 3.0-Tesla clinical MRI scanner and analyzed the data using DTT with the fiber assignment by continuous tractography (FACT) algorithm. By utilizing the high-spatial-resolution DTI protocol with FACT algorithm, we were able to reconstruct and quantify bilateral optic pathways including the optic chiasm, optic tract, optic radiations free of contamination from neighboring white matter tracts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Cooper, Camden, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamali
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic & Interventional Imaging, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address: Khader.M.Hasan@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Khader M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Pavani
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adapa
authors.forename: Azadeh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Razmandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Texas at Houston and TIRR Memorial Hermann NeuroRecovery Research Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Keser
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic & Interventional Imaging, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Larry A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D065866:Optic Tract / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Calcarine cortex; Diffusion tensor imaging; Diffusion tensor tractography; High spatial resolution; Human visual system; Occipital lobe; Optic chiasm; Optic nerve; Optic radiations; Optic tract; Retinogeniculocalcarine tract; Visual pathways