J Korean Child Neurol Soc.  2011 Aug;19(2):84-92.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging after Six Months of Corrected Age in Preterm Infants with White Matter Injury

• Kim DS
• Moon WJ

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to elucidate the fractional anisotrophy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of premature infants with white matter injury after six months of corrected age.
METHODS
Seven infants below 36 weeks of gestational age were included in this analysis. All had undergone at least two ultrasonograms which showed persistent abnormal findings related to brain injury. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed after six months of corrected age. We investigated the clinical characteristics and FA and ADC in regions of interest in the seven subjects. Their gross motor function was screened by the Korean infant and child development test at around 20 months of corrected age.
RESULTS
The brain ultrasonographic findings included subependymal cyst in three, increased periventricular echogenicity in two, thinning of corpus callosum in two and periventricular leukomalacia in one subject. The conventional MRI showed periventricular leukomalacia in three, increased periventricular signal intensity in two, and thinning of corpus callosum in two subjects. FA was higher in the posterior limb of the internal capsule than in the anterior in all subjects, and in the lower centrum semiovale than in the upper part in all except one subject. ADC was higher in the anterior limb of the internal capsule than in the posterior. There was no difference in FA and ADC according to gestational age.
CONCLUSION
DTI may be useful to detect abnormalities in deep white matter and to predict the developmental progress of the fiber tract in preterm infants with white matter injury.

Keyword

Fractional anisotrophy; Apparent diffusion coefficient; White matter injury; Diffusion tensor imaging; Premature; Infant

MeSH Terms

Brain
Brain Injuries
Child
Child Development
Corpus Callosum
Diffusion
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
European Continental Ancestry Group
Extremities
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Internal Capsule
Leukomalacia, Periventricular
Magnetic Resonance Imaging