Peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging (DTI): normal values and demographic determinants in a cohort of 60 healthy individuals
Objective: To identify demographic determinants of peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and to establish normal values for fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD). Methods: Sixty subjects were examined at 3 Tesla by single-sho...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2018
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| In: |
European radiology
Year: 2018, Volume: 28, Issue: 5, Pages: 1801-1808 |
| ISSN: | 1432-1084 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00330-017-5134-z |
| Online Access: | Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-5134-z Verlag, Volltext: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00330-017-5134-z 
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| Author Notes: | Moritz Kronlage, Véronique Schwehr, Daniel Schwarz, Tim Godel, Lorenz Uhlmann, Sabine Heiland, Martin Bendszus, Philipp Bäumer |
| Summary: | Objective: To identify demographic determinants of peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and to establish normal values for fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD). Methods: Sixty subjects were examined at 3 Tesla by single-shot DTI. FA, AD, RD, and MD were collected for the sciatic, tibial, median, ulnar, and radial nerve and were correlated with demographic variables. Results: Mean FA of all nerves declined with increasing age (r = −0.77), which could be explained by RD increasing (r = 0.56) and AD declining (r = −0.40) with age. Moreover, FA was inversely associated with height (r = −0.28), weight (r = −0.38) and BMI (r = −0.35). Although FA tended to be lower in men than women (p = 0.052), this difference became completely negligible after adjustment to body weight. A multiple linear regression model for FA was calculated with age and weight as predictors (defined by backward variable selection), yielding an R 2 = 0.71 and providing a correction formula to adjust FA for age and weight. Conclusion: Peripheral nerve DTI parameters depend on demographic variables. The most important determinants age and weight should be considered in all studies employing peripheral nerve DTI. Key points • Peripheral nerve diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters depend on demographic variables. • Fractional anisotropy (FA) declines with increasing age and weight. • Gender does not systematically affect peripheral nerve DTI. • The formula presented here allows adjustment of FA for demographic variables. |
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| Item Description: | First online: 11 December 2017 Gesehen am 19.07.2018 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1432-1084 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s00330-017-5134-z |