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Pappa O, Astrakas L, Anagnostou N, Bougia CΚ, Maliakas V, Sofikitis N, Argyropoulou MI, Tsili AC. 3.0 T diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography of the testes in nonobstructive azoospermia. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2024:10.1007/s00261-024-04457-8. [PMID: 38940912 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-024-04457-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the role of 3.0 T Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Fiber Tractography (FT) of the testes in the work-up of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). METHODS This prospective study included consecutive NOA men and controls. A 3.0 T scrotal MRI was performed, including DTI. The testicular apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) were calculated. FT reconstructions were created. The Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by pairwise comparisons, assessed differences in testicular ADC and FA between NOA histologic phenotypes (group 1: hypospermatogenesis; group 2: maturation arrest; and group 3: Sertoli cell-only syndrome) and normal testes. The Mann-Whitney-U test compared ADC and FA between NOA testes with positive and negative sperm retrieval. Visual assessment of the testicular fiber tracts was performed. Fiber tracts fewer in number, of reduced thickness, disrupted and/or disorganized were considered "abnormal". Chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analysis assessed variations in testicular fiber tracts morphology. RESULTS Twenty-nine NOA men (mean age: 39 ± 5.93 years) and 20 controls (mean age: 26 ± 5.83 years) were included for analysis. Higher ADC (p < 0.001) and FA (p < 0.001) was observed in NOA testes compared to controls. Differences in FA were found between groups 1 and 3 (0.07 vs 0.10, p = 0.26) and groups 2 and 3 (0.07 vs 0.10, p = 0.03), but not between groups 1 and 2 (p = 0.66). An increase in FA was observed in NOA testes with Sertoli cell-only syndrome compared to hypospermatogenesis and maturation arrest. FA was higher in NOA testes with negative results for the presence of sperm compared to those with positive results (0.09 vs 0.07, p = 0.006). FT showed "abnormal" fiber tracts in NOA testes (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION 3.0 T DTI and FT provide an insight into deranged spermatogenesis in NOA testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ourania Pappa
- Department of Clinical Radiology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Loukas Astrakas
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nikoletta Anagnostou
- Department of Clinical Radiology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Christina Κ Bougia
- Department of Clinical Radiology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Vasileios Maliakas
- Department of Clinical Radiology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
- Department of Clinical Radiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, St. Niarchos 45500, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Department of Urology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Maria I Argyropoulou
- Department of Clinical Radiology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Athina C Tsili
- Department of Clinical Radiology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, University Campus, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
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Kato S, Kurokawa R, Suzuki F, Amemiya S, Shinozaki T, Takanezawa D, Kohashi R, Abe O. White and Gray Matter Abnormality in Burning Mouth Syndrome Evaluated with Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging. Magn Reson Med Sci 2024; 23:204-213. [PMID: 36990741 PMCID: PMC11024709 DOI: 10.2463/mrms.mp.2022-0099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is defined by a burning sensation or pain in the tongue or other oral sites despite the presence of normal mucosa on inspection. Both psychiatric and neuroimaging investigations have examined BMS; however, there have been no analyses using the neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) model, which provides detailed information of intra- and extracellular microstructures. Therefore, we performed voxel-wise analyses using both NODDI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) models and compared the results to better comprehend the pathology of BMS. METHODS Fourteen patients with BMS and 11 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were prospectively scanned using a 3T-MRI machine using 2-shell diffusion imaging. Diffusion tensor metrics (fractional anisotropy [FA], mean diffusivity [MD], axial diffusivity [AD], and radial diffusivity [RD]) and neurite orientation and dispersion index metrics (intracellular volume fraction [ICVF], isotropic volume fraction [ISO], and orientation dispersion index [ODI]) were retrieved from diffusion MRI data. These data were analyzed using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and gray matter-based spatial statistics (GBSS). RESULTS TBSS analysis showed that patients with BMS had significantly higher FA and ICVF and lower MD and RD than the healthy control subjects (family-wise error [FWE] corrected P < 0.05). Changes in ICVF, MD, and RD were observed in widespread white matter areas. Fairly small areas with different FA were included. GBSS analysis showed that patients with BMS had significantly higher ISO and lower MD and RD than the healthy control subjects (FWE-corrected P < 0.05), mainly limited to the amygdala. CONCLUSION The increased ICVF in the BMS group may represent myelination and/or astrocytic hypertrophy, and microstructural changes in the amygdala in GBSS analysis indicate the emotional-affective profile of BMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimpei Kato
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Kurokawa
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Fumio Suzuki
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiori Amemiya
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Shinozaki
- Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daiki Takanezawa
- Department of Oral Diagnostic Sciences, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Kohashi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Nihon University School of Dentistry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Abe
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Filimonova E, Pashkov A, Moysak G, Martirosyan A, Zaitsev B, Rzaev J. Diffusion tensor imaging reveals distributed white matter abnormalities in primary trigeminal neuralgia: Tract-based spatial statistics study. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2024; 236:108080. [PMID: 38113657 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2023.108080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) is a prevalent chronic pain disorder whose pathogenesis is not limited to the trigeminal system. Despite the significant advances in uncovering underlying mechanisms, there is a paucity of comprehensive and consistent data regarding the role of white matter throughout the entire brain in PTN. METHODS We performed a prospective case-control study. Sixty patients with PTN and 28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). A tract-based spatial statistical approach was performed to investigate white matter impairment in patients with PTN with several metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity (AD). Additionally, ROI-based analysis was performed for each white matter tract to compare FA values between groups with correction for patient age and sex. Correlations between DTI data and nerve root compression severity, as well as pain severity, were also evaluated in patients with PTN. RESULTS Our analysis demonstrated a widespread and symmetrical reduction in FA values among TN patients when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Specifically, this FA decrease was predominantly observed in regions such as the corona radiata, internal capsule, optic radiation, and thalami, as well as structures within the posterior fossa, notably the cerebellar peduncles. No statistically significant differences were found between patients and the control group during the MD, AD and RD map analyses. ROI-based analysis did not reveal statistically significant changes in FA values in white matter tracts (p > 0.05 in all comparisons, FDR-corrected); however, there were trends towards FA value decreases in the internal capsule (p = 0.08, FDR-corrected) and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (p = 0.09, FDR-corrected). CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate the presence of microstructural abnormalities in white matter among individuals with primary trigeminal neuralgia, which may potentially play a role in the development and progression of the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Filimonova
- FSBI "Federal Center of Neurosurgery", Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Neurosurgery, Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Anton Pashkov
- FSBI "Federal Center of Neurosurgery", Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Neurosurgery, Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Data Collection and Processing Systems, Novosibirsk State Technical University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Galina Moysak
- FSBI "Federal Center of Neurosurgery", Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Neurosurgery, Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Boris Zaitsev
- FSBI "Federal Center of Neurosurgery", Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Jamil Rzaev
- FSBI "Federal Center of Neurosurgery", Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Neurosurgery, Novosibirsk State Medical University, Novosibirsk, Russia; Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Medicine and Psychology, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Porey C, Naik S, Bhoi SK, Jha M, Samal P. A Study of Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Central Post-Stroke Pain: Traveling Beyond the Pain Pathways. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2023; 26:889-894. [PMID: 38229624 PMCID: PMC10789392 DOI: 10.4103/aian.aian_378_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Central post-stroke pain (CPSP), seen in the aftermath of a stroke, is an underdiagnosed entity but quite a disabling complication. All the postulated theories regarding the pathogenesis of CPSP point to its origin in the central pain pathways. However, this study attempts to demonstrate the role of other contributing areas in the generation of CPSP. Materials and Methods In this single-center tertiary care hospital-based study, 24 patients with both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes of variable durations were recruited, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) imaging with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) acquisition was done. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of the spinothalamic tract (STT), corticospinal tract (CST), superior thalamic radiation (STR), basal ganglia (BG), and primary somatosensory cortex (SSC) were compared between normal and abnormal sides and also in extrathalamic lesions separately. Results Significant differences with lower FA were noted in STT, CST, STR, and SSC and higher ADC values in BG, STR, CST, and SSC on comparison between the normal and lesion sides. On individual sub-analysis, ischemic stroke had significant changes in the FA value of CST and the ADC value of STR and CST, while hemorrhagic stroke had significant changes in the FA and ADC values of STR and SSC, as well as the FA value of STT. In the analysis of the extrathalamic strokes, significance persisted in all the studied parameters except the BG. The CST abnormalities were evident even in patients with clinical motor improvement. On multivariate analysis, visual analogue scale score severity was correlated with thalamic lesions. Conclusion Contrary to the belief that STT is solely responsible for CPSP, the role of CST, STR, BG, and SSC as contributing areas is evident from this study and may be more well established if studied in a larger population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Porey
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Suprava Naik
- Department of Radiodiagnosis, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Sanjeev Kumar Bhoi
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Menka Jha
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Priyanka Samal
- Department of Neurology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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