title: Diffusion tensor tractography of the arcuate fasciculus in patients with brain tumors: Comparison between deterministic and probabilistic models.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the deterministic and probabilistic tracking methods of diffusion tensor white matter fiber tractography in patients with brain tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 29 patients with left brain tumors <2 cm from the arcuate fasciculus who underwent pre-operative language fMRI and DTI. The arcuate fasciculus was reconstructed using a deterministic Fiber Assignment by Continuous Tracking (FACT) algorithm and a probabilistic method based on an extended Monte Carlo Random Walk algorithm. Tracking was controlled using two ROIs corresponding to Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Tracts in tumoraffected hemispheres were examined for extension between Broca's and Wernicke's areas, anterior-posterior length and volume, and compared with the normal contralateral tracts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Probabilistic tracts displayed more complete anterior extension to Broca's area than did FACT tracts on the tumor-affected and normal sides (p < 0.0001). The median length ratio for tumor: normal sides was greater for probabilistic tracts than FACT tracts (p < 0.0001). The median tract volume ratio for tumor: normal sides was also greater for probabilistic tracts than FACT tracts (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Probabilistic tractography reconstructs the arcuate fasciculus more completely and performs better through areas of tumor and/or edema. The FACT algorithm tends to underestimate the anterior-most fibers of the arcuate fasciculus, which are crossed by primary motor fibers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Zhixi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA ; Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Kyung K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Mehrnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenabi
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Meier
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA ; Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Andrei I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Holodny
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA ; Brain Tumor Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Young
keywords: Arcuate Fasciculus; Brain Tumors; DTI; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; FACT; Probabilistic; Tractography