Study of normal cerebral white matter in children from birth to 2 years with diffusion tensor imaging

Objective The purpose of this study was to use diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the status of cerebral white matter (WM) maturation in the first 2 years after birth. Methods A total of 67 children ranging in age from birth to 24 months underwent conventional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging with gradient encoding in fifteen directions , all on a 1.5T MRI system. All children were divided into six groups according to month. Fractional anisotropy was measured in five deep WM structures (posterior limb of internal capsule , anterior limb of internal capsule , genu and splenium of corpus callosum , optic radiation) and four peripheral WM regions (associational WM underlying prefrontal , occipital cortex , temporal lobe and centrum semiovale) . Results In the same months of age , different parts of the white matter FA values were significantly different ; the deep white matter FA values were higher than the shallow ; in birth-to-28 days baby , corpus callosum FA values was the highest in deep white matter , followed by the corpus callosumknee , posterior limb of internal capsule , optic radiation and limb of internal capsule ; in the shallow white matter , centrum semiovale was the highest , followed by the temporal lobe , frontal lobe and occipital subcortical white matter. With increasing month-old , white matter FA values of the various parts gradually increased , showing positive correlation. In the same parts of the white matter , FA values change in different rate for different ages , which was a statistically significant (P 0.05) . Conclusion Combination of T1WI and T2WI and diffusion tensor imaging can be used for quantitative evaluation of cerebral white matter development of children in the first 2 years after birth..