Neurospine.  2018 Jun;15(2):169-174. 10.14245/ns.1836116.058.

Highly Accurate Analysis of the Cervical Neural Tract of the Elderly Using ZOOM DTI

• Furuya S
• Iwasaki M
• Yokohama T
• Ohura D
• Okuaki T

• KMID: 2426324
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/ns.1836116.058

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
To investigate the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the cervical spinal cord in elderly individuals using zonally magnified oblique multislice (ZOOM) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).
METHODS
Fourteen healthy elderly volunteers (group E) and 10 young volunteers (group Y) were enrolled. We assessed the FA, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and λ₁-λ₃ values using 3-T magnetic resonance imaging. The region of interest was contoured entirely inside the spinal cord, with no gray/white matter distinction, in order to avoid including the cerebrospinal fluid.
RESULTS
As lower cervical levels were approached, the FA values gradually decreased, while the ADC values increased. The mean FA values at each cervical level were as follows in groups E and Y: 0.71 and 0.70 at the C2/3 level, 0.66 and 0.66 at the C3/4 level, 0.63 and 0.62 at the C4/5 level, 0.57 and 0.57 at the C5/6 level, and 0.58 and 0.57 at the C6/7 level, respectively. The mean ADC values in groups E and Y were 1.06 and 0.99 at the C2/3 level, 1.05 and 1.06 at the C3/4 level, 1.14 and 1.06 at the C4/5 level, 1.18 and 1.21 at the C5/6 level, and 1.39 and 1.46 at the C6/7 level, respectively. There were no significant differences between the elderly and young participants.
CONCLUSION
In both asymptomatic elderly and young individuals, the FA values gradually decreased and the ADC values increased moving towards lower cervical levels. Age did not affect the FA values, even though mild cord compression was evident due to spondylotic changes. ZOOM DTI has the potential to provide more information than conventional DTI.

Keyword

Apparent diffusion coefficient; Cervical spinal cord zoom; Fractional anisotropy; Diffusion tensor imaging

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Anisotropy
Cerebrospinal Fluid
Cervical Cord
Diffusion
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Fluconazole
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Spinal Cord
Volunteers
Fluconazole