Introduction to diffusion tensor imaging: basic physics, anatomy, functions and ROI-based reconstruction of the major white matter bundles.

Congress:

ECR 2020

Poster Number:

C-05924

Type:

Educational Exhibit

Keywords:

Performed at one institution, Not applicable, Education and training, Normal variants, Imaging sequences, Computer Applications-3D, MR-Diffusion/Perfusion, MR, Image manipulation / Reconstruction, Neuroradiology brain, CNS, Anatomy, Neuro

Authors:

A. Lavrova¹, M. Zubkov², V. Cheremisin³; ¹Saint-Petersburg/RU, ²Saint Petersburg/RU, ³St. Petersburg/RU

DOI:

10.26044/ecr2020/C-05924

DOI-Link:

https://dx.doi.org/10.26044/ecr2020/C-05924

Fig. 1: Physics of diffusion.

Fig. 2: Anisotropy.

Fig. 3: Pulse sequences.

Fig. 4: Reconstruction.

Fig. 5: White matter fiber types.

Learning objectives

To become familiar with DTI basic physic principles To understand the anatomy and functions of different types of fibers To learn how to reconstruct fiber tracts using ROI tool and dedicated postprocessing software To explain the utility of using fiber tracking in clinical practice

Background

Since its early introduction in 1988 diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has become one of the most popular advanced MRI techniques with a plethora of clinical applications and quite an irreplaceable tool for in-vivo white matter fiber tracking. Nowadays there is already a multitude of software options for processing DTI data as well as schemes such data can be acquired. Here we present theanatomy, functions of the intra-brain connections and examples of white matter fiber tract reconstruction using an ROI-based model for beginning radiologists and scholars.

Findings and procedure details

Physics of diffusion Diffusion is a process of mass transport due to random thermal molecular motion MRI focuses on self-diffusion, i.e. the diffusion of particles of a substance among other particles of the same substance; The speed (technically, the average displacement over time) of this motion is described by the self-diffusion coefficient D. Anisotropy A lot of tissues have internal structure, where molecular motion in at least one direction is favored among others (i.e., they represent anisotropic medium).Inthiscase,diffusioncannotbedescribed byasingleself-diffusioncoefficient anymore.Self-diffusiontensoristhenused tobetterdescribediffusioninsuch a medium. Pulse sequences...

Conclusion

The current DTI applications show the potential prospects to improve our knowledge about human brain connectivity and understanding of damage and recovery in diseases of the human nervous system. Tractography is a useful tool for the diagnosis and management of patients, particularly for surgery planning and outcome prediction. DTI is important for neuronavigation systems that enable intraoperative tractography-based guidance. Combined with functional MRI techniques it is become possible to access the relation between function and structure in healthy and diseased brains and assess whether fMRImeasured...

Personal information and conflict of interest

A. Lavrova; Saint-Petersburg/RU - nothing to disclose M. Zubkov; Saint Petersburg/RU - nothing to disclose V. Cheremisin; St. Petersburg/RU - nothing to disclose

References

Borden, N. M., Forseen, S. E., & Stefan, C. (2015). Imaging Anatomy of the Human Brain: A Comprehensive Atlas Including Adjacent Structures. Springer Publishing Company. White Matter Tracts (DTI), Lubdha M. Shahn, MD, retrieved from statdx.com White Matter Tracts, Karen L. Salzman, MD, retrieved from statdx.com Webb, W., & Adler, R. K. (2016). Neurology for the Speech-Language Pathologist-E-Book. Elsevier health sciences Atlas of neuroanatomy for Pathologists, retrieved from http://anatpat.unicamp.br