Faculty Collaboration Database

Characterization and limitations of diffusion tensor imaging metrics in the cervical spinal cord in neurologically intact subjects. J Magn Reson Imaging 2013 Oct;38(4):861-7

Date

02/08/2013

Pubmed ID

23389869

DOI

10.1002/jmri.24039

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-84886929022 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   41 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To characterize diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics across all levels of the cervical spinal cord (CSC) and to study the impact of age and signal quality on these metrics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: DTI metrics were calculated for gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) funiculi throughout the CSC (C1-T1) in 25 healthy subjects (22-85 years old). Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) and mean DTI metrics were measured for the upper (C1-3), middle (C4-6) and lower (C7-T1) cervical segments. Age-related changes in DTI metrics were analyzed for the individual segment groups.

RESULTS: Fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD) and transverse apparent diffusion coefficient (tADC) showed significant differences between GM and WM funiculi. Significant age-related changes were observed in FA in upper and middle CSC segments but not in the lower CSC. The median SNR was significantly lower in the middle and lower segment groups as compared to the upper levels, contributing to poor spatial resolution in these regions.

CONCLUSION: This study provides DTI data for GM and WM funiculi throughout the CSC. While DTI metrics may be used to define cord pathology, variations in metrics due to age and signal quality need to be accounted for before making definitive conclusions.

Author List

Vedantam A, Jirjis MB, Schmit BD, Wang MC, Ulmer JL, Kurpad SN

Authors

Shekar N. Kurpad MD, PhD Chair, Director, Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Brian Schmit PhD Professor in the Biomedical Engineering department at Marquette University
Aditya Vedantam MD Assistant Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Marjorie Wang MD Clinical Transformation Officer, Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging
Anisotropy
Brain
Cervical Vertebrae
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Female
Humans
Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
Male
Middle Aged
Sex Factors
Signal-To-Noise Ratio
Spinal Cord
Young Adult