Korean J Pediatr.  2009 Jan;52(1):99-104. 10.3345/kjp.2009.52.1.99.

Usefulness of DTI-based three dimensional corticospinal tractography in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

• Yeo JH
• Son SM
• Lee ES
• Moon HK

• KMID: 2037344
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3345/kjp.2009.52.1.99

Abstract

PURPOSE
Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging-based three-dimensional fiber tractography (DTI-FT) is a new method which demonstrates the orientation and integrity of white matter fibers in vivo. However, clinical application on children with cerebral palsy is still under investigation. We present various abnormal patterns of DTI-FT findings and accordance rate with clinical findings in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, to recognize the usefulness of DTI-FT.
METHODS
The thirteen children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy evaluated at Yeungnam University hospital from March, 2003 to August, 2007 were enrolled in this study and underwent magnetic resonance DTI-FT of the corticospinal tracts. Two regions of interest (ROI) were applied and the termination criteria were fractional anisotropy > or =0.3, angle< or =70degrees.
RESULTS
The patterns and distribution of abnormal DTI-based corticospinal tractographic findings were interruption(10 cases, 76.9%), reduction of fiber volume (8 cases, 61.5%), agenesis of corticospinal tract (3 cases, 23.1%), transcallosal fiber (2 cases, 15.4%) and, aberrant corticospinal tracts (4 cases, 30.8%). Abnormal DTI-based corticospinal tractographic findings were in accordance with the clinical findings of cerebral palsy in 84.6% of the enrolled patients.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that DTI-FT would be a useful modality in the assessment of the corticospinal tract abnormalities in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy.

Keyword

Cerebral palsy; Diffusion tensor MR imaging; Fiber tractography; Corticospinal tract

MeSH Terms

Anisotropy
Cerebral Palsy
Child
Diffusion
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Orientation
Pyramidal Tracts