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Liu R, Fan Q, He J, Wu X, Tan W, Yan Z, Wang W, Li Z, Deng YW. Clinical characteristics analysis of pediatric spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality in China: a retrospective study. BMC Pediatr 2024; 24:236. [PMID: 38570804 PMCID: PMC10988788 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-04716-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to analyze the clinical characteristics of Chinese children with spinal cord injury (SCI) without radiographic abnormality (SCIWORA) and explore their contributing factors and mechanisms of occurrence. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of pediatric patients diagnosed with SCIWORA from January 2005 to May 2020. Epidemiological, etiological, mechanistic, therapeutic, and outcome aspects were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 47 patients with SCIWORA were included in this study, comprising 16 males and 31 females. The age range was 4 to 12 years, with an average age of 7.49 ± 2.04 years, and 70% of the patients were below eight. Sports-related injuries constituted 66%, with 70% attributed to dance backbend practice. Thoracic segment injuries accounted for 77%. In the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) classification, the combined proportion of A and B grades accounted for 88%. Conservative treatment was chosen by 98% of the patients, with muscle atrophy, spinal scoliosis, hip joint abnormalities, and urinary system infections being the most common complications. CONCLUSION SCIWORA in Chinese children is more prevalent in those under eight years old, with a higher incidence in females than males. Thoracic spinal cord injuries are predominant, dance backbend as a primary contributing factor, and the social environment of "neijuan" is a critical potential inducing factor. Furthermore, the initial severity of the injury plays a decisive role in determining the prognosis of SCIWORA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renfeng Liu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Qizhi Fan
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jingpeng He
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zuyun Yan
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Weiguo Wang
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zhiyue Li
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - You-Wen Deng
- Department of Spinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.
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Corroenne R, Grevent D, Mahallati H, Gauchard G, Bussieres L, Ville Y, Salomon LJ. Diffusion tensor imaging of fetal spinal cord: feasibility and gestational-age-related changes. ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY 2023; 62:241-247. [PMID: 36971038 DOI: 10.1002/uog.26208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the fetal brain is a relatively new technique that allows evaluation of white matter tracts of the central nervous system throughout pregnancy, as well as in certain pathological conditions. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of DTI of the spinal cord in utero and to examine gestational-age (GA)-related changes in DTI parameters during pregnancy. METHODS This was a prospective study conducted between December 2021 and June 2022 in the LUMIERE Platform, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France, as part of the LUMIERE SUR LE FETUS trial. Women with a pregnancy between 18 and 36 weeks of gestation without fetal or maternal abnormality were eligible for inclusion. Sagittal diffusion-weighted scans of the fetal spine were acquired, without sedation, using a 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner. The imaging parameters were as follows: 15 non-collinear direction diffusion-weighted magnetic-pulsed gradients with a b-value 700 s/mm2 and one B0 image without diffusion-weighting; slice thickness, 3 mm; field of view (FOV), 36 mm; phase FOV, 1.00; voxel size, 4.5 × 2.8 × 3 mm3 ; number of slices, 7-10; repetition time, 2800 ms; echo time, minimum; and total acquisition time, 2.3 min. DTI parameters, including fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), were extracted at the cervical, upper thoracic, lower thoracic and lumbar levels of the spinal cord. Cases with motion degradation and those with aberrant reconstruction of the spinal cord on tractography were excluded. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate GA-related changes of DTI parameters during pregnancy. RESULTS During the study period, 42 pregnant women were included at a median GA of 29.3 (range, 22.0-35.7) weeks. Five (11.9%) patients were not included in the analysis because of fetal movement. Two (4.8%) patients with aberrant tractography reconstruction were also excluded from analysis. Acquisition of DTI parameters was feasible in all remaining cases (35/35). Increasing GA correlated with increasing FA averaged over the entire fetal spinal cord (r, 0.37; P < 0.01), as well as at the individual cervical (r, 0.519; P < 0.01), upper thoracic (r, 0.468; P < 0.01), lower thoracic (r, 0.425; P = 0.02) and lumbar (r, 0.427; P = 0.02) levels. There was no correlation between GA and ADC averaged over the entire spinal cord (r, 0.01; P = 0.99) or at the individual cervical (r, -0.109; P = 0.56), upper thoracic (r, -0.226; P = 0.22), lower thoracic (r, -0.052; P = 0.78) or lumbar (r, -0.11; P = 0.95) levels. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that DTI of the spinal cord is feasible in normal fetuses in typical clinical practice and allows extraction of DTI parameters of the spinal cord. There is a significant GA-related change in FA in the fetal spinal cord during pregnancy, which may result from decreasing water content as observed during myelination of fiber tracts occurring in utero. This study may serve as a basis for further investigation of DTI in the fetus, including research into its potential in pathological conditions that impact spinal cord development. © 2023 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Corroenne
- EA Fetus 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, University of Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine and Surgery, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - D Grevent
- EA Fetus 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, University of Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Radiology, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - H Mahallati
- Department of Radiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - G Gauchard
- EA Fetus 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - L Bussieres
- EA Fetus 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, University of Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine and Surgery, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Y Ville
- EA Fetus 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, University of Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine and Surgery, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - L J Salomon
- EA Fetus 7328 and LUMIERE Platform, University of Paris, Paris, France
- Department of Obstetrics, Fetal Medicine and Surgery, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France
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Porcine Model of the Growing Spinal Cord-Changes in Diffusion Tensor Imaging Parameters. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040565. [PMID: 36830353 PMCID: PMC9951717 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that has promising applications for the objective assessment of the microstructure of the spinal cord. This study aimed to verify the parameters obtained using DTI change during the growth process. We also wanted to identify if the DTI values change on the course of the spinal cord. The model organism was a healthy growing porcine spinal cord (19 pigs, Polish White, weight 24-120 kg, mean 48 kg, median 48 kg, age 2.5-11 months, mean 5 months, median 5.5 months). DTI parameters were measured in three weight groups: up to 29 kg (five pigs), 30-59 kg (six pigs), and from 60 kg up (eight pigs). DTI was performed with a 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance scanner (Philips, Ingenia). Image post-processing was done using the Fiber Track package (Philips Ingenia workstation) by manually drawing the regions of interest (nine ROIs). The measurements were recorded for three sections: the cervical, thoracolumbar and lumbar segments of the spinal cord at the C4/C5, Th13/L1, and L4/L5 vertebrae levels. In each case, one segment was measured cranially and one caudally from the above-mentioned places. The values of fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were obtained for each ROIs and compared. It is shown that there is a correlation between age, weight gain, and change in FA and ADC parameters. Moreover, it is noted that, with increasing weight and age, the FA parameter increases and ADC decreases, whereas the FA and ADC measurement values did not significantly change between the three sections of the spinal cord. These findings could be useful in determining the reference values for the undamaged spinal cords of animals and growing humans.
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Trò R, Roascio M, Tortora D, Severino M, Rossi A, Cohen-Adad J, Fato MM, Arnulfo G. Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging of Neonatal Spinal Cord in Clinical Routine. FRONTIERS IN RADIOLOGY 2022; 2:794981. [PMID: 37492682 PMCID: PMC10365122 DOI: 10.3389/fradi.2022.794981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) has undisputed advantages over the more classical diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) as witnessed by the fast-increasing number of clinical applications and software packages widely adopted in brain imaging. However, in the neonatal setting, DKI is still largely underutilized, in particular in spinal cord (SC) imaging, because of its inherently demanding technological requirements. Due to its extreme sensitivity to non-Gaussian diffusion, DKI proves particularly suitable for detecting complex, subtle, fast microstructural changes occurring in this area at this early and critical stage of development, which are not identifiable with only DTI. Given the multiplicity of congenital anomalies of the spinal canal, their crucial effect on later developmental outcome, and the close interconnection between the SC region and the brain above, managing to apply such a method to the neonatal cohort becomes of utmost importance. This study will (i) mention current methodological challenges associated with the application of advanced dMRI methods, like DKI, in early infancy, (ii) illustrate the first semi-automated pipeline built on Spinal Cord Toolbox for handling the DKI data of neonatal SC, from acquisition setting to estimation of diffusion measures, through accurate adjustment of processing algorithms customized for adult SC, and (iii) present results of its application in a pilot clinical case study. With the proposed pipeline, we preliminarily show that DKI is more sensitive than DTI-related measures to alterations caused by brain white matter injuries in the underlying cervical SC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosella Trò
- Departments of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Monica Roascio
- Departments of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Rossi
- Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Mila—Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marco Massimo Fato
- Departments of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Arnulfo
- Departments of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics, and System Engineering, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Chen S, Wang Y, Wu X, Chang J, Jin W, Li W, Song P, Wu Y, Zhu J, Qian Y, Shen C, Yu Y, Dong F. Degeneration of the Sensorimotor Tract in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy and Compensatory Structural Changes in the Brain. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:784263. [PMID: 35444527 PMCID: PMC9014124 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.784263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Degenerative cervical myelopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, that has become increasingly prevalent in the aging population worldwide. The current study determined the factors affecting degeneration in the sensorimotor tract with degenerative cervical myelopathy and its relationship with brain structure. We divided patients into hyperintensity (HS) and non-hyperintensity (nHS) groups and measured the fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficients of the lateral corticospinal tract (CST), fasciculus gracilis and fasciculus cuneatus (FGC). Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) techniques were used to estimate brain structure changes. Correlation of the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score, light touch, pinprick, motor score, and fractional anisotropy (FA) ratios of the CST at different levels were analyzed. Compared to healthy controls, the FA ratios of CST in the HS and nHS groups were decreased at all levels, and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratio was increased only at C4/5 levels in the HS group. The FA ratio of FGC was decreased at the C3/4 and C4/5 levels in the HS group and only decreased at the C4/5 level in the nHS group. The ADC ratio was decreased only at the C4/5 level in the HS group. VBM analysis revealed that the volume of the precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, and paracentral lobule increased in patients compared to controls. TBSS analysis found no statistical significance between the sensory and motor tracts in white matter. The volume of clusters in HS and nHS groups negatively correlated with the C1/2 FA ratio of the CST. The results showed that the degeneration distance of the CST was longer than the FGC, and the degeneration distance was related to the degree of compression and spinal cord damage. Structural compensation and the neurotrophin family may lead to enlargement of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senlin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xianyong Wu
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jianchao Chang
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Weiming Jin
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peiwen Song
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jiajia Zhu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yinfeng Qian
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Cailiang Shen
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yongqiang Yu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Fulong Dong
- Department of Orthopedics, Department of Spine Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of AnHui Medical University, Hefei, China
- *Correspondence: Fulong Dong
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Krisa L, Middleton DM, Saksena S, Faro SH, Leiby BE, Mohamed FB, Mulcahey MJ. Clinical Utility of Diffusion Tensor Imaging as a Biomarker to Identify Microstructural Changes in Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2022; 28:1-12. [PMID: 35521062 PMCID: PMC9009200 DOI: 10.46292/sci21-00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Lack of clarity about the neurological consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI) in children causes speculation about diagnoses, recovery potential, and treatment effectiveness. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has shown promising results as a biomarker to evaluate spinal cord integrity at a microstructural level. Objectives To look at the difference between pediatric participants with and without SCI to determine which DTI metrics best categorize spinal cord tissue damage and to correlate DTI metrics with two clinical measures: Capabilities of the Upper Extremity Test (CUE-T) and Spinal Cord Independence Measure version III (SCIM-III). Methods This single-site, prospective study included pediatric participants with SCI (n = 26) and typically developed (TD) control subjects (n = 36). All participants underwent two magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans on a 3T MR scanner. Participants with SCI also completed the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI), CUE-T, and SCIM-III outcomes measures. Results This study found significant strength of association between fractional anisotropy (FA) and upper extremity muscle strength (UEMS) in participants with SCI. Most DTI parameters showed a significant difference between participants with SCI and TD participants and a moderate correlation with the CUE-T total score. Regional effects on group differences were found to be significant. Conclusion This study demonstrates the strength of association between DTI parameters and clinical measures in the pedantic SCI population. It illustrates DTI as a potential biomarker of SCI location and severity in the pediatric SCI population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Krisa
- Department of Physical Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,Department of Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,Center for Outcomes and Measurement, Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Devon M. Middleton
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sona Saksena
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Scott H. Faro
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin E. Leiby
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Biostatistics Division, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Feroze B. Mohamed
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - MJ Mulcahey
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,Center for Outcomes and Measurement, Jefferson College of Rehabilitation Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Fisher J, Alizadeh M, Middleton D, Matias CM, Mulcahey MJ, Calhoun-Thielen C, Mohamed FB, Krisa L. Brain White Matter Abnormality Induced by Chronic Spinal Cord Injury in the Pediatric Population: A Preliminary Tract-based Spatial Statistic Study. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 2021; 27:1-13. [PMID: 34866884 DOI: 10.46292/sci20-00018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objectives: Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) is a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-based processing technique that aims to improve the objectivity and interpretability of analysis of multisubject diffusion imaging studies. This study used TBSS to measure quantitative changes in brain white matter structures following spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Eighteen SCI subjects aged 8-20 years old (mean age, 16.5 years) were scanned using a conventional single-shot EPI DTI protocol using a 3.0T Siemens MR scanner. All participants underwent a complete International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury (ISNCSCI) examination to determine the level and severity of injury. Five participants were classified as American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A, nine as AIS B, and four as AIS C/D. Imaging parameters used for data collection were as follows: 20 directions, b = 1000 s/mm2, voxel size = 1.8 mm x 1.8 mm, slice thickness = 5 mm, TE = 95 ms, TR = 4300 ms, slices = 30, TA = 4:45 min. To generate TBSS, nonparametric permutation tests were used for voxel-wise statistical analysis of the fractional anisotropy (FA) skeletons between AIS groups. A two-tailed t test was applied to extract voxels with significant differences at p < .05. Results: Notable significant changes occurred throughout the corticospinal, spinothalamic, and dorsal column/medial lemniscus tracts. Altered regions in the temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes were also identified. Conclusion: These results suggest that white matter structures are altered differently between people with different AIS classifications. TBSS has the potential to serve as a screening tool to identify white matter changes in regions of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Fisher
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mahdi Alizadeh
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Devon Middleton
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Caio M Matias
- Department of Neurosurgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - M J Mulcahey
- Department of Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Feroze B Mohamed
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Laura Krisa
- Jefferson Integrated Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Shahrampour S, De Leener B, Alizadeh M, Middleton D, Krisa L, Flanders AE, Faro SH, Cohen-Adad J, Mohamed FB. Atlas-Based Quantification of DTI Measures in a Typically Developing Pediatric Spinal Cord. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2021; 42:1727-1734. [PMID: 34326104 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Multi-parametric MRI, provides a variety of biomarkers sensitive to white matter integrity, However, spinal cord MRI data in pediatrics is rare compared to adults. The purpose of this work was 3-fold: 1) to develop a processing pipeline for atlas-based generation of the typically developing pediatric spinal cord WM tracts, 2) to derive atlas-based normative values of the DTI indices for various WM pathways, and 3) to investigate age-related changes in the obtained normative DTI indices along the extracted tracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS DTI scans of 30 typically developing subjects (age range, 6-16 years) were acquired on a 3T MR imaging scanner. The data were registered to the PAM50 template in the Spinal Cord Toolbox. Next, the DTI indices for various WM regions were extracted at a single section centered at the C3 vertebral body in all the 30 subjects. Finally, an ANOVA test was performed to examine the effects of the following: 1) laterality, 2) functionality, and 3) age, with DTI-derived indices in 34 extracted WM regions. RESULTS A postprocessing pipeline was developed and validated to delineate pediatric spinal cord WM tracts. The results of ANOVA on fractional anisotropy values showed no effect for laterality (P = .72) but an effect for functionality (P < .001) when comparing the 30 primary WM labels. There was a significant (P < .05) effect of age and maturity of the left spinothalamic tract on mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity values. CONCLUSIONS The proposed automated pipeline in this study incorporates unique postprocessing steps followed by template registration and quantification of DTI metrics using atlas-based regions. This method eliminates the need for manual ROI analysis of WM tracts and, therefore, increases the accuracy and speed of the measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Shahrampour
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.S., M.A., D.M., F.B.M.)
| | - B De Leener
- Department of Computer Engineering and Software Engineering (B.D.L.)
| | - M Alizadeh
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.S., M.A., D.M., F.B.M.)
| | - D Middleton
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.S., M.A., D.M., F.B.M.)
| | | | - A E Flanders
- Radiology (A.E.F., S.H.F.), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - S H Faro
- Radiology (A.E.F., S.H.F.), Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - J Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab (J.C.-A.), Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Functional Neuroimaging Unit (J.C.-A.), Centre de Recherche de l'Institut Universitaire de Gériatrie de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - F B Mohamed
- From the Departments of Radiology (S.S., M.A., D.M., F.B.M.)
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Buyanova IS, Arsalidou M. Cerebral White Matter Myelination and Relations to Age, Gender, and Cognition: A Selective Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:662031. [PMID: 34295229 PMCID: PMC8290169 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.662031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
White matter makes up about fifty percent of the human brain. Maturation of white matter accompanies biological development and undergoes the most dramatic changes during childhood and adolescence. Despite the advances in neuroimaging techniques, controversy concerning spatial, and temporal patterns of myelination, as well as the degree to which the microstructural characteristics of white matter can vary in a healthy brain as a function of age, gender and cognitive abilities still exists. In a selective review we describe methods of assessing myelination and evaluate effects of age and gender in nine major fiber tracts, highlighting their role in higher-order cognitive functions. Our findings suggests that myelination indices vary by age, fiber tract, and hemisphere. Effects of gender were also identified, although some attribute differences to methodological factors or social and learning opportunities. Findings point to further directions of research that will improve our understanding of the complex myelination-behavior relation across development that may have implications for educational and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina S. Buyanova
- Neuropsy Lab, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Language and Brain, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marie Arsalidou
- Neuropsy Lab, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Cognitive Centre, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Cheng SJ, Tsai PH, Lee YT, Li YT, Chung HW, Chen CY. Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Spinal Cord. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am 2021; 29:195-204. [PMID: 33902903 DOI: 10.1016/j.mric.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord often is regarded as one of the last territories in the central nervous system where diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can be used to probe white matter architecture. This article reviews current progress in spinal cord DTI, starting with anatomic properties and technical challenges that make spinal cord DTI a difficult task. Several possibilities offered by advanced pulse sequences that might overcome the difficulties are addressed, with associated trade-offs and limitations. Potential clinical assistance also is discussed in various spinal cord pathologies, such as myelopathy due to external compression, spinal cord tumors, acute ischemia, traumatic injury, and so forth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sho-Jen Cheng
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Huei Tsai
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Chung-Shan Medical University, No.110, Sec.1, Jianguo N. Road, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Ting Lee
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Tien Li
- Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Wen Chung
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Electronics and Bioinformatics, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec.4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Department of Electrical Engineering, National Taiwan University, No.1, Sec.4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Yu Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan; Translational Imaging Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, 252 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan; Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan
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Reynolds BB, By S, Weinberg QR, Witt AA, Newton AT, Feiler HR, Ramkorun B, Clayton DB, Couture P, Martus JE, Adams M, Wellons JC, Smith SA, Bhatia A. Quantification of DTI in the Pediatric Spinal Cord: Application to Clinical Evaluation in a Healthy Patient Population. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:1236-1241. [PMID: 31196859 PMCID: PMC7048550 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of the study is to characterize diffusion tensor imaging indices in the developing spinal cord, evaluating differences based on age and cord region. Describing the progression of DTI indices in the pediatric cord increases our understanding of spinal cord development. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed on DTI acquired in 121 pediatric patients (mean, 8.6 years; range, 0.3-18.0 years) at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt from 2017 to 2018. Diffusion-weighted images (15 directions; b = 750 s/mm2; slice thickness, 5 mm; in-plane resolution, 1.0 × 1.0 mm2) were acquired on a 3T scanner in the cervicothoracic and/or thoracolumbar cord. Manual whole-cord segmentation was performed. Images were masked and further segmented into cervical, upper thoracic, thoracolumbar, and conus regions. Analyses of covariance were performed for each DTI-derived index to investigate how age affects diffusion across cord regions, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated across age for each derived index and region. Post hoc testing was performed to analyze regional differences. RESULTS Analyses of covariance revealed significant correlations of age with axial diffusivity, mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (all, P < .001). There were also significant differences among cord regions for axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity, mean diffusivity, and fractional anisotropy (all, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS This research demonstrates that diffusion evolves in the pediatric spinal cord during development, dependent on both cord region and the diffusion index of interest. Future research could investigate how diffusion may be affected by common pediatric spinal pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- B B Reynolds
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - S By
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Q R Weinberg
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A A Witt
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A T Newton
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.).,Pediatrics (A.T.N.).,Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - H R Feiler
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - B Ramkorun
- Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - P Couture
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.)
| | - J E Martus
- Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics (J.E.M.), Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - J C Wellons
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.).,Department of Ophthalmology (S.A.S., J.C.W. III), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - S A Smith
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.).,Department of Biomedical Engineering (S.A.S.).,Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.,Department of Ophthalmology (S.A.S., J.C.W. III), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - A Bhatia
- From the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (A.T.N., P.C., S.A.S., A.B.) .,Institute of Imaging Science (B.B.R., S.B., Q.R.W., A.A.W., A.T.N., H.R.F., B.R., S.A.S., A.B.), Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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