Study of DTI and DTT on Impairment of Cortical Spinal Tract in Patients with Cerebral Ischemia

Objective To study the diffusion anisotropic features of white matter fibers of cerebral ischemic patients by using MR diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and diffusion tensor tractography(DTT),and evaluate the relationship between the impairment degree of cortical spinal tract(CST)and muscular strength.Materials and Methods 15 patients with acute cerebral ischemic stroke received MR,DTI and DTT.For imaging processing,the software of DTV-II was used,fractional anisotropy maps,directionally encoded color maps and 3D tractography of bilateral CST of all patients were obtained.Fractional anisotropy were measured and compared between infarction lesions and corresponding contralateral normal regions.Hand motor function ability was evaluated with Brunstorm criteria.Results In stroke patients,the FA value in infarct area of white matter was significant lower than that in normal hemisphere(paired test,t=-6.3333,P0.0000).DTI and DTT showed that the CST was compression,displacement,translocation,and break.The configuration of the CST was closely negative correlated with motor recovery(spearmen test,rs=-0.97361,P0.0001).Conclusion In acute cerebral ischemic stroke,the impairment severity of CST is related to muscle strength,therefore,DTI and DTT have important value in clinical management and prognosis.