Diffusion tensor imaging study of white matter of fiber tracts of the corpus callous and cingula fibers in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the white matter fiber integrity in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder by using MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).Methods Twelve patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and twelve healthy volunteers were examined with MR T1WI、T2WI and DTI.Fractional anisotropy maps、directionally encoded color maps were created with the software of DTV-II.Fractional anisotropy (FA) were measured in the genu (anterior),body and splenium (posterior) of corpus callosum,horizontal part and posterior part of the bilateral cingulste fibers.Results In normal volunteers group,FA measurements in white matter regions were normal and reconstructed FA images and directionally encoded color(DEC) maps could display main white fibers in normal controls.The FA value of the splenium (posterior) of corpus callosum and horizontal part of the bilateral cingulate fibers was significant lower in PTSD patients than in normal controls (P<0.05).Conclusions The fiber bundle of the limbic system in patients with PTSD may have structural abnornalities.