Comparative study of diffusion tensor imaging of amygdale-hippocampus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and normal controls

Objective To investigate the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) characteristics of amygdala and hippocampus in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy(TLE) and the normal controls,in order to evaluate the application of the DTI in the diagnosis of TLE.Methods Sixteen patients with TLE and 20 healthy volunteers received conventional MRI and DTI scanning.The ADC,FA and RA of bilateral amygdalae and hippocampi were measured,respectively.The distribution of the white matter fiber tracts was observed and compared.Results No significant differences in DTI parameters were noted between the bilateral amygdalae or hippocampi in normal controls.Patients with TLE had increased ADC and decreased FA and RA.While noticed variability of ADC in amygdale and caudal hippocampus,as well as variability of FA and RA in the hippocampus head and body,was observed in patients with TLE.Conclusion DTI provides more comprehensive and detailed structure information in amygdala and hippocampus than the conventional MRI.Through the research of the local white matter fiber tracts and its parameters,DTI can provide useful information for the diagnosis and treatment of TLE.