ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the value of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) quantitative parameters in evaluating the injury of the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome(GBS). Methods Sixteen healthy volunteers and sixteen patients with GBS underwent DTI examination of the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve. The denervation of skeletal muscles controlled by the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve was observed. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, fractional anisotropy (FA) value, axial diffusivity (AD) value and radial diffusivity (RD) value were measured respectively,and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) of the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve was performed. Between-groups comparison was made with the independent sample t test and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the parameters. Results (1)The MR features of denervated skeletal muscles comprehend hyperintensity on T2WI SPAIR sequence and the instinct boundary, muscle atrophy occationally. (2)Compared with the healthy volunteer group, the ADC value of the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve of GBS group was increased and the FA value, AD value, RD value were decreased, and there was significant difference between the ADC value, FA value, AD value and RD value of GBS and volunteer groups respectively(P<0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of FA value was higher than that of the corresponding ADC value in the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve. (3)DTT showed that the number of fibers decreased in patients with GBS compared to the normal volunteers. Conclusion MR can clearly show the denervated skeletal muscles controlled by the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve. The ADC value, FA value, AD value and RD value, the quantitative parameters of DTI, can evaluate the injury of the tibial nerve and the common peroneal nerve in patients with GBS.