A combined study of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)and magnetic resonance spectroscopy(MRS)changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)and to study on the physiopathology of ALS.Methods Thirty-eight AIS patients,8 patients with pure lower motor neuron involvement and 5 patients with mixed-type cervical spondylosis and 34 healthy controls were enrolled and examined with the conventional brain MRI,DTI and 1H-MRS.Results T2-weighted and T2 FLAIR images revealed abnormal high signals in bilateral pyramidal tract positions in 21%(8/38)of ALS patients,which was higher than that in the coaex When compared with the control group,the values of FA in the precentral gyms(0.492±0.059 vs 0.552±0.045,F=17.150,P<0.01),the posterior limb of the internal capsule(0.679±0.048 vs 0.727 4-0.031.F=19.481.P<0.01)and the cerebral peduncle(1eft0.740 4-0.038 vs 0.761 4±0.024.F=4.290;right0.720 ±0.044 vs 0.746 ±0.034,F=3.264,both P<0.01)of the ALS group were decreased significantly.so were the values of NAA/Cr.And the FA reduction rate was 10.9%,6.6% and 2.8%-3.5% respectively.There was also a significant decrease in FA in the anterior limb of the internal capsule and the occipital lobe in the ALS group.Conclusion Not only does the application of DTI and MRS help to demonstrate upper motor neuron involvement in the brain and facilitate the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ALS,but also increases the understanding of the lesion distribution and physiopathology in ALS.