Objectives: We investigated an approach for the diagnosis of traumatic axonal injury (TAI) of the spinothalamic tract (STT) that was based on diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) results and a statistical comparison of individual patients who showed central pain following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) with the control group. Methods: Five right-handed female patients in their forties and with central pain following mTBI and 12 age-, sex-, and handedness-matched healthy control subjects were recruited. After DTT reconstruction of the STT, we analyzed the STT in terms of three DTT parameters (fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and fiber number (FN)) and its configuration (narrowing and tearing). To assess narrowing, we determined the area of the STT on an axial slice of the subcortical white matter. Results: the FN values were significantly lower in at least one hemisphere of each patient when compared to those of the control subjects (p < 0.05). Significant decrements from the STT area in the control group were observed in at least one hemisphere of each patient (p < 0.05). Regarding configurational analysis, the STT showed narrowing and/or partial tearing in at least one hemisphere of each of the five patients. Conclusions: Herein, we demonstrate a DTT-based approach for the diagnosis of TAI of the STT. The approach involves a statistical comparison between DTT parameters of individual patients who show central pain following mTBI and those of an age-, gender-, and handedness-matched control group. We think that the method described in this study can be useful in the diagnosis of TAI of the STT in individual mTBI patients.
Objectives We investigated differences in the ascending reticular activating system (ARAS) between vegetative state (VS) and minimally conscious state (MCS) in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) by using diffusion tensor tractography. Methods We recruited TBI patients and normal subjects. We reconstructed the lower ARAS and five parts of upper ARAS [prefrontal cortex (PFC), premotor cortex, primary motor cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, and posterior parietal cortex]. Results Significant differences were observed in the fractional anisotropy (FA) and fiber number (FN) values of the five parts of upper ARAS between the VS and control groups and between the MCS and control groups (P < 0.05), but no differences were detected in the lower ARAS (P > 0.05). The FA and FN values of the PFC in the upper ARAS were significantly different between the VS and MCS groups (P < 0.05). No other significant differences in FA and FN values were detected among the other segments of the upper ARAS or in the lower ARAS (P > 0.05). Conclusion The results indicate that the prefrontal portion of the upper ARAS is the critical area for distinguishing between VS and MCS in patients with TBI.
Introduction: The inferior cerebellar peduncle (ICP) is a major neural tract in the cerebellum and is involved in coordination of movement and proprioceptive; therefore, ICP injury can be accompanied by poor coordination of movement, including ataxia. In this study, using diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), we investigated the relationship between ataxia and ICP injury in patients with cerebral infarct. Methods: We recruited 14 stroke patients with ataxia after the onset of stroke and 12 normal subjects. The Score of Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) was used to evaluate ataxia. The values of fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient, and fiber number (FN) of the ICP were measured for the diffusion tensor imaging parameters. Results: Significant differences were observed in the FA and FN values of the ICP in the affected hemisphere between the patient and control groups ( P < .05). In addition, the FN value of the ICP in the affected hemisphere showed a negative correlation with SARA ( r = −0.538, P < .05). However, parameters of the ICP in the unaffected hemisphere or the FN value in the unaffected hemisphere showed no correlation with SARA ( P > .05). Conclusion: We found that the ataxia severity was closely related to the severity of ICP injury in patients with cerebral infarct. Our results suggest that evaluation of the ICP using DTT would be useful for patients with ataxia after cerebral infarct.
Objectives:We report on a patient who showed mild bradykinesia due to injury of the corticofugal tract (CFT) from the secondary motor area following direct head trauma, which was demonstrated on diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Case summary: A 58-year-old male patient underwent conservative management for subarachnoid hemorrhages caused by direct head trauma resulting from a fall from six-meter height at the department of neurosurgery of a local hospital. His Glasgow Coma Scale score was 3. He developed mildly slow movements following the head trauma and visited the rehabilitation department of a university hospital at ten weeks after the fall. The patient exhibited mild bradykinesia during walking and arm movements with mild weakness in all four extremities (G/G -). Results: On ten-week DTT, narrowing of the right CFT from the supplementary motor area (SMA-CFT), and partial tearing of the left SMA-CFT, left CFTs from the dorsal premotor cortex (dPMC-CFT) and both corticospinal tracts (CSTs) at the subcortical white matter were observed. Conclusion: This case demonstrated abnormalities in both CSTs (partial tearing at the subcortical white matter and narrowing), both SMA-CFTs (narrowing and partial tearing) and left dPMC-CFT. We believe our findings suggest the necessity of assessment of the CFTs from the secondary motor area for patients with unexplained bradykinesia following direct head trauma.
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