Current Clinical Applications of Diffusion-Tensor Imaging in Neurological Disorders.
10.3988/jcn.2018.14.2.129
- Author:
Woo Suk TAE
1
;
Byung Joo HAM
;
Sung Bom PYUN
;
Shin Hyuk KANG
;
Byung Jo KIM
Author Information
1. Brain Convergence Research Center, Korea University, Seoul, Korea. nukbj@korea.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
diffusion-tensor imaging;
diffusion-tensor imaging scalar;
postprocessing;
neurological disorders
- MeSH:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis;
Brain;
Brain Injuries;
Dementia;
Depression;
Diagnostic Imaging;
Disease Progression;
Epilepsy;
Multiple Sclerosis;
Nervous System Diseases*;
Neuroimaging;
Parkinson Disease;
Spinal Cord Injuries;
Stroke;
Water;
White Matter
- From:Journal of Clinical Neurology
2018;14(2):129-140
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) is a noninvasive medical imaging tool used to investigate the structure of white matter. The signal contrast in DTI is generated by differences in the Brownian motion of the water molecules in brain tissue. Postprocessed DTI scalars can be used to evaluate changes in the brain tissue caused by disease, disease progression, and treatment responses, which has led to an enormous amount of interest in DTI in clinical research. This review article provides insights into DTI scalars and the biological background of DTI as a relatively new neuroimaging modality. Further, it summarizes the clinical role of DTI in various disease processes such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's dementia, epilepsy, ischemic stroke, stroke with motor or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and depression. Valuable DTI postprocessing tools for clinical research are also introduced.