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Diffusion Tractography Biomarkers of Pediatric Cerebellar Hypoplasia/Atrophy: Preliminary Results Using Constrained Spherical Deconvolution

Diffusion Tractography Biomarkers of Pediatric Cerebellar Hypoplasia/Atrophy: Preliminary Results... BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Advances in MR imaging modeling have improved the feasibility of reconstructing crossing fibers, with increasing benefits in delineating angulated tracts such as cerebellar tracts by using tractography. We hypothesized that constrained spherical deconvolution–based probabilistic tractography could successfully reconstruct cerebellar tracts in children with cerebellar hypoplasia/atrophy and that diffusion scalars of the reconstructed tracts could differentiate pontocerebellar hypoplasia, nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia, and progressive cerebellar atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen children with cerebellar ataxia and pontocerebellar hypoplasia, nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia or progressive cerebellar atrophy and 7 controls were included in this study. Cerebellar and corticospinal tracts were reconstructed by using constrained spherical deconvolution. Scalar measures (fractional anisotropy and mean, axial and radial diffusivity) were calculated. A general linear model was used to determine differences among groups for diffusion MR imaging scalar measures, and post hoc pair-wise comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Cerebellar and corticospinal tracts were successfully reconstructed in all subjects. Significant differences in diffusion MR imaging scalars were found among groups, with fractional anisotropy explaining the highest variability. All groups with cerebellar pathologies showed lower fractional anisotropy compared with controls, with the exception of cerebellar hypoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the feasibility of constrained spherical deconvolution to reconstruct cerebellar and corticospinal tracts in children with morphologic cerebellar pathologies. In addition, the preliminary results show the potential utility of quantitative analysis of scalars of the cerebellar white matter tracts in children with cerebellar pathologies such as cerebellar hypoplasia and atrophy. Further studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed to validate the clinical significance of our preliminary results. ABBREVIATIONS: AD axial diffusivity CA progressive cerebellar atrophy CH nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia CPCT corticopontocerebellar tract CST corticospinal tract CTT cerebellar-thalamic tract dMRI diffusion MR imaging FA fractional anisotropy MD mean diffusivity PCH pontocerebellar hypoplasia RD radial diffusivity http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png American Journal of Neuroradiology American Journal of Neuroradiology

Diffusion Tractography Biomarkers of Pediatric Cerebellar Hypoplasia/Atrophy: Preliminary Results Using Constrained Spherical Deconvolution

Diffusion Tractography Biomarkers of Pediatric Cerebellar Hypoplasia/Atrophy: Preliminary Results Using Constrained Spherical Deconvolution


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Advances in MR imaging modeling have improved the feasibility of reconstructing crossing fibers, with increasing benefits in delineating angulated tracts such as cerebellar tracts by using tractography. We hypothesized that constrained spherical deconvolution–based probabilistic tractography could successfully reconstruct cerebellar tracts in children with cerebellar hypoplasia/atrophy and that diffusion scalars of the reconstructed tracts could differentiate pontocerebellar hypoplasia, nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia, and progressive cerebellar atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen children with cerebellar ataxia and pontocerebellar hypoplasia, nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia or progressive cerebellar atrophy and 7 controls were included in this study. Cerebellar and corticospinal tracts were reconstructed by using constrained spherical deconvolution. Scalar measures (fractional anisotropy and mean, axial and radial diffusivity) were calculated. A general linear model was used to determine differences among groups for diffusion MR imaging scalar measures, and post hoc pair-wise comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Cerebellar and corticospinal tracts were successfully reconstructed in all subjects. Significant differences in diffusion MR imaging scalars were found among groups, with fractional anisotropy explaining the highest variability. All groups with cerebellar pathologies showed lower fractional anisotropy compared with controls, with the exception of cerebellar hypoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the feasibility of constrained spherical deconvolution to reconstruct cerebellar and corticospinal tracts in children with morphologic cerebellar pathologies. In addition, the preliminary results show the potential utility of quantitative analysis of scalars of the cerebellar white matter tracts in children with cerebellar pathologies such as cerebellar hypoplasia and atrophy. Further studies with larger cohorts of...
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Publisher
American Journal of Neuroradiology
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by the American Society of Neuroradiology.
ISSN
0195-6108
eISSN
1936-959X
DOI
10.3174/ajnr.A4607
pmid
26659337
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Advances in MR imaging modeling have improved the feasibility of reconstructing crossing fibers, with increasing benefits in delineating angulated tracts such as cerebellar tracts by using tractography. We hypothesized that constrained spherical deconvolution–based probabilistic tractography could successfully reconstruct cerebellar tracts in children with cerebellar hypoplasia/atrophy and that diffusion scalars of the reconstructed tracts could differentiate pontocerebellar hypoplasia, nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia, and progressive cerebellar atrophy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen children with cerebellar ataxia and pontocerebellar hypoplasia, nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia or progressive cerebellar atrophy and 7 controls were included in this study. Cerebellar and corticospinal tracts were reconstructed by using constrained spherical deconvolution. Scalar measures (fractional anisotropy and mean, axial and radial diffusivity) were calculated. A general linear model was used to determine differences among groups for diffusion MR imaging scalar measures, and post hoc pair-wise comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Cerebellar and corticospinal tracts were successfully reconstructed in all subjects. Significant differences in diffusion MR imaging scalars were found among groups, with fractional anisotropy explaining the highest variability. All groups with cerebellar pathologies showed lower fractional anisotropy compared with controls, with the exception of cerebellar hypoplasia. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the feasibility of constrained spherical deconvolution to reconstruct cerebellar and corticospinal tracts in children with morphologic cerebellar pathologies. In addition, the preliminary results show the potential utility of quantitative analysis of scalars of the cerebellar white matter tracts in children with cerebellar pathologies such as cerebellar hypoplasia and atrophy. Further studies with larger cohorts of patients are needed to validate the clinical significance of our preliminary results. ABBREVIATIONS: AD axial diffusivity CA progressive cerebellar atrophy CH nonprogressive cerebellar hypoplasia CPCT corticopontocerebellar tract CST corticospinal tract CTT cerebellar-thalamic tract dMRI diffusion MR imaging FA fractional anisotropy MD mean diffusivity PCH pontocerebellar hypoplasia RD radial diffusivity

Journal

American Journal of NeuroradiologyAmerican Journal of Neuroradiology

Published: May 1, 2016

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