Diffusion tensor imaging of peripheral nerves

Skeletal Radiol. 2010 Nov;39(11):1073-9. doi: 10.1007/s00256-010-0974-5. Epub 2010 Jul 1.

Abstract

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows the directional dependence of water diffusion to be studied. Analysis of the resulting image data allows for the determination of fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), as well as allowing three-dimensional visualization of the fiber tract (tractography). We visualized the ulnar nerve of ten healthy volunteers with DTI. We found FA to be 0.752 ± 0.067 and the ADC to be 0.96 ± 0.13 × 10(-3) mm(2)/s. A nuts-and-bolts description of the physical aspects of DTI is provided as an educational process for readers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Peripheral Nerves / pathology*
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / pathology*