[3T tractography imaging: anatomy and clinical applications]

Abstract

Tractography (TG) is the only non-invasive technique that enables the fibres of the white substance to be dissected. This technique can study the projection, association, and commissural fibres, and is an improvement and an important complement to conventional MR imaging. TG is an important tool for preoperative sub-cortical mapping, and there is a good correlation between TG and the direct sub-cortical stimulation technique. TG can have false positives in regions infiltrated by the tumour or with a mass effect. Furthermore, a negative TG does not exclude functional fibre persistence. TG is capable of demonstrating changes in other pathologies (congenital malformations, ischaemic disease and demyelinating diseases).