Diagnostic value of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cerebral infarction

Objective To analyze the characteristics of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cerebral infarction and to explore the values of diagnosis and predicting prognosis of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) in patients with cerebral infarction in different stages.Methods Forty patients with cerebral infarction in different stages and 40 healthy volunteers were examined by magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),including conventional T1 and T2-weighted imaging,diffusion-weighted imaging and DTI.Fractional anisotropy(FA) images were reconstructed.The values of FA and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) were measured in the infarcted regions,corresponding contralateral normal regions and corresponding normal regions in normal control group.Results DTI showed that the size of infarction foci was more accurate and clearer than that of the conventional MRI.The FA values of the infarcted regions,infarcted ipsilateral posterior limb of internal capsule,cerebral peduncle,and corticospinal tract in cerebral infarction group were 0.12±0.01,0.29±0.03,0.36±0.12 and 0.35±0.04,respectively.They were lower than those in the contralateral corresponding regions' 0.35±0.08,0.50±0.13,0.53±0.14 and 0.56±0.07,and they all had significant differences(P0.05).There were no significant differences between the ADC and FA values at the uninjured sides in patients with cerebral infarction as compared with the corresponding regions in the normal control group(P0.05).The FA and ADC values in brain tissues changed regularly with the time of infarction after cerebral infarction.The FA values in the affected sides had no consistent changes as compared with the contralateral sides in the superacute phase.They increased or decreased slightly,then(during acute stage,subacute stage and chronic stage) decreased irreversibly;the ADC values in the affected sides changed with time regularly;they decreased significantly;then gradually returned to normal,and after that increased again.Conclusion DTI examination contributes to the diagnosis of cerebral infarction.The combination of the ADC and FA values may more accurately conduct clinical stage and evaluate the time of the occurrence of cerebral infarction.