title: Diagnostic potential of the diffusion tensor tractography with fractional anisotropy in the diagnosis and treatment of cervical spondylotic and posttraumatic myelopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based methodology widely used for the evaluation of microstructural integrity of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly of brain white matter fibers and bundles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The most common parameters evaluated in a DTI study are the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD). Combining FA and MD analyses is commonly used in the evaluation of various types of brain pathologies, such as brain tumors, where a combined analysis allows an accurate tumor characterization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent studies have shown that FA and MD could be of value in non-oncologic spinal pathology. In this regard, it has been demonstrated that DTI can provide new insights into the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy and cervical spinal cord injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to assess the role of DTI in such a new clinical scenario.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Neurosurgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Landi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Gualtiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Innocenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Biomedicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Neurosurgical Clinic, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meschini
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Neuroradiology, INM Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fabbiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, UTHSC (University of Tennessee Health Science Center), Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Division of Neurosurgery, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delfini
keywords: Cervical myelopathy; diffusion tensor imaging; fiber tracking; fractional anisotropy; magnetic resonance imaging; spinal cord injury