title: Normal values of cervical spinal cord diffusion tensor in young and middle-aged healthy Chinese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lack of normal reference value of diffusion tensor imaging parameters hinders its application in clinical practice. In this study, we aim to establish a comprehensive normal DTI database of Chinese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-five healthy subjects aged 21-61 years were recruited and underwent 3T DTI scan of cervical spine. DTI parameters were measured in whole cord, ventral, lateral and dorsal column from C2 to C7 segments. Regions, segments, gender and age-related changes of DTI parameters were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was found between genders (p > 0.05). DTI parameters significantly differed among different cord levels (p < 0.05). FA value in whole cord, grey matter, dorsal and ventral column showed significant but weak correlation with age (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A comprehensive normal database of DTI parameters of cervical spinal cord was established. The effect of gender and age-related changes is negligible in DTI analysis of cervical spinal cord disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 12 Sandy Bay Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Tin-Yan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 12 Sandy Bay Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 12 Sandy Bay Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kin-Cheung
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 12 Sandy Bay Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jason Pui-yin
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 12 Sandy Bay Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Keith Dip-Kei
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Luk
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The University of Hong Kong, 12 Sandy Bay Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. yhud@hku.hk.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervical spinal cord; DTI indices; Diffusion tensor imaging; Gender and age-related change; Normal database