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Introduction. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Effective technique in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for measuring anisotropic (directional) water diffusion in-vivo Can reveal useful information about tissue microstructure, particularly highly-anisotropic structures, e.g. white matter.
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Introduction • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) • Effective technique in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for measuring anisotropic (directional) water diffusion in-vivo • Can reveal useful information about tissue microstructure, particularly highly-anisotropic structures, e.g. white matter
DTI of the Spinal Cord • Spinal cord (SC) DTI is an expanding area in MRI research, including evaluation of acute and chronic injury and degenerative conditions • The SC lends itself well to DTI since it is an inherently anisotropic structure largely comprising long, myelinated axons • DTI of the cervical spinal cord has shown good correlation between DTI indices and clinical examination results
What do we measure?? • Fractional Anisotropy (FA) • Tells you how anisotropic (in a straight line) diffusion is
Diffusion in white matter • Myelinated axons in white matter restrict the direction of water diffusion • Water molecules effectively “probe” the microstructure – Le Bihan, et al. 2001
Diffusion in White Matter Intact Axons
Diffusion in White Matter Acute Injury WallerianDegneration
Diffusion in White Matter Loss of Anisotropic Diffusion
Images Injury Level TD Subject SCI Subject
