Diffusion tensor MRI of the healthy brachial plexus
Oudeman, Jos; Verhamme, Camiel; Engbersen, Maurits P.; Caan, Mattan W.A.; Maas, Mario; Froeling, Martijn; Nederveen, Aart J.; Strijkers, Gustav J.
(2018) PLoS ONE, volume 13, issue 5, pp. e0196975
(Article)
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Diffusion Tensor MRI (DT-MRI) is a promising tool for the evaluation of brachial plexus pathology. Therefore, we introduce and evaluate a fast DT-MRI protocol (8min33s scanning with 5-10 min postprocessing time) for the brachial plexus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers within three age-groups (18-35, 36-55, and > 56)
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received DT-MRI of the brachial-plexus twice. Means of fractional-anisotropy (FA), mean-diffusivity (MD), axial-diffusivity (AD), and radial-diffusivity (RD) for the individual roots and trunks were evaluated. A stepwise forward approach was applied to test for correlations with age, sex, body-mass-index (BMI), bodysurface, height, and bodyweight. Within-subject, intra-rater, and inter-rater repeatability were assessed using Bland-Altman analysis, coefficient of variation (CV), intraclass-correlation (ICC), and minimal detectable difference (MDD). RESULTS: No differences between sides and root levels were found. MD, AD, and RD correlated (P < 0.05) with bodyweight. Within-subject quantification proved repeatable with CVs for FA, MD, AD, and RD of 16%, 12%, 11%, and 14%, respectively. DISCUSSION: The DT-MRI protocol was fast and repeatable. Found correlations should be considered in future studies of brachial plexus pathology.
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Keywords: Tractography, Nerve fibers, Magnetic resonance imaging, Anisotropy, Nerves, Fats, Echo planar imaging, Linear regression analysis, Echo-Planar Imaging/methods, Humans, Middle Aged, Nerve Fibers/physiology, Linear Models, Male, Young Adult, Adolescent, Adult, Female, Aged, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods, Fats/metabolism, Brachial Plexus/diagnostic imaging, Diffusion Tensor Imaging/methods, Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all), Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology(all), Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Journal Article
ISSN: 1932-6203
Publisher: Public Library of Science
(Publisher version, Peer reviewed)