Tractography: Possible Applications in Musculoskeletal Radiology

Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2015 Sep;19(4):387-95. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1563736. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Abstract

Tractography (or fiber tracking) consists of three-dimensional modeling of the preferential movement of water molecules in the form of fiber tracks from the tensor field information. This technique allows a new approach for the microarchitectural analysis of anisotropic structures such as nerves, white matter, and muscles. Many disorders have been studied including cervical myelopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, nerve root compression, and nerve tumors. Muscles have been less evaluated. Tractography is still a research technique, and its validation and widespread routine clinical use will require a good deal of work toward a harmonization of the MRI protocols and data postprocessing methods.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging / methods*
  • Humans
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / pathology*