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Abstract：
OBJECTIVE: In clinical studies, evaluating residual fiber tracts in spinal cord injuries poses serious difficulties, whereas diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can assess alterations in fiber structural integrity. For this reason, this study aimed to determine changes in the structural integrity of residual fiber tracts via fractional anisotropy (FA) variations and fiber-tracking patterns in patients with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).
METHODS: T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging was performed on four traumatic SCI patients and three healthy volunteers using a 3.0-T MR scanner. After obtaining fiber-tracking maps, FA values were measured and analyzed in residual and remote normal and healthy cords.
RESULTS: Diffusion tensor tractography showed obvious destruction of fiber tracts in injured cords. In the healthy control subjects, averaged FA values ranged from 0.545 to 0.601, whereas all SCI patients had decreased FA values in both residual (0.220 ± 0.121) and remote normal fibers (0.535 ± 0.101). There were also statistically significant differences in FA values between residual and remote normal fibers in patients (P = 0.000) and between their residual and healthy control fibers (P = 0.000). No significant difference was found between remote normal and healthy cords (P = 0.312).
CONCLUSIONS: Specific FA variations were observed in residual fibers, suggesting that DTI may be a useful tool for evaluating residual tracts in SCI patients.
METHODS: T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted imaging was performed on four traumatic SCI patients and three healthy volunteers using a 3.0-T MR scanner. After obtaining fiber-tracking maps, FA values were measured and analyzed in residual and remote normal and healthy cords.
RESULTS: Diffusion tensor tractography showed obvious destruction of fiber tracts in injured cords. In the healthy control subjects, averaged FA values ranged from 0.545 to 0.601, whereas all SCI patients had decreased FA values in both residual (0.220 ± 0.121) and remote normal fibers (0.535 ± 0.101). There were also statistically significant differences in FA values between residual and remote normal fibers in patients (P = 0.000) and between their residual and healthy control fibers (P = 0.000). No significant difference was found between remote normal and healthy cords (P = 0.312).
CONCLUSIONS: Specific FA variations were observed in residual fibers, suggesting that DTI may be a useful tool for evaluating residual tracts in SCI patients.
摘要：
目的：在临床研究中，评估脊髓损伤中残留的纤维束存在严重困难，而弥散张量成像（DTI）可以评估纤维结构完整性的改变。出于这个原因,本研究旨在通过各向异性分数(FA)变化和纤维追踪模式确定慢性创伤性脊髓损伤(SCI)患者残余纤维束结构完整性的变化.
方法：使用3.0-TMR扫描仪对4名创伤性SCI患者和3名健康志愿者进行T2加权和弥散加权成像。获得纤维跟踪图后，测量和分析残留和远程正常和健康脐带的FA值。
结果：扩散张量纤维束成像显示损伤索中纤维束的明显破坏。在健康对照受试者中，平均FA值范围为0.545~0.601,而所有SCI患者的残余纤维(0.220±0.121)和远程正常纤维(0.535±0.101)的FA值都降低.患者的残余纤维和远程正常纤维之间的FA值也存在统计学差异（P=0.000），其残余纤维和健康对照纤维之间的FA值也存在统计学差异（P=0.000）。远程正常和健康脐带之间没有发现显着差异（P=0.312）。
结论：在残余纤维中观察到特定的FA变化，提示DTI可能是评估SCI患者残余血管的有用工具。
方法：使用3.0-TMR扫描仪对4名创伤性SCI患者和3名健康志愿者进行T2加权和弥散加权成像。获得纤维跟踪图后，测量和分析残留和远程正常和健康脐带的FA值。
结果：扩散张量纤维束成像显示损伤索中纤维束的明显破坏。在健康对照受试者中，平均FA值范围为0.545~0.601,而所有SCI患者的残余纤维(0.220±0.121)和远程正常纤维(0.535±0.101)的FA值都降低.患者的残余纤维和远程正常纤维之间的FA值也存在统计学差异（P=0.000），其残余纤维和健康对照纤维之间的FA值也存在统计学差异（P=0.000）。远程正常和健康脐带之间没有发现显着差异（P=0.312）。
结论：在残余纤维中观察到特定的FA变化，提示DTI可能是评估SCI患者残余血管的有用工具。
