title: Diffusion tensor imaging in children with tuberous sclerosis complex: tract-based spatial statistics assessment of brain microstructural changes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence of microstructural changes in normal-appearing white matter of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate major white matter tracts in children with tuberous sclerosis complex using tract-based spatial statistics diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children (mean age ± standard deviation: 8.5 ± 5.5 years) with an established diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex and 8 age-matched controls were studied. The imaging protocol consisted of T1-weighted high-resolution 3-D spoiled gradient-echo sequence and a spin-echo, echo-planar diffusion-weighted sequence. Differences in the diffusion indices were evaluated using tract-based spatial statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tract-based spatial statistics showed increased axial diffusivity in the children with tuberous sclerosis complex in the superior and anterior corona radiata, the superior longitudinal fascicle, the inferior fronto-occipital fascicle, the uncinate fascicle and the anterior thalamic radiation. No significant differences were observed in fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and radial diffusivity between patients and control subjects. No difference was found in the diffusion indices between the baseline and follow-up examination in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with tuberous sclerosis complex have increased axial diffusivity in major white matter tracts, probably related to reduced axonal integrity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Zikou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasileios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Xydis
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Loukas G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Astrakas
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Iliada
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Loukia C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Tzarouchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Meropi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzoufi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, 1186, 45110, Ioannina, Greece. margyrop@cc.uoi.gr.
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Argyropoulou
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Central nervous system; Child; Diffusion tensor imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Tract-based spatial statistics; Tuberous sclerosis complex