Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Predicting the Motor Function of Patients with Acute Ischaemic Stroke in the Brainstem / 中国医学影像学杂志

ABSTRACT

Purpose To explore the significance of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in diagnosing and predicting the motor function of patients with acute ischemic stroke in the brainstem. Materials and Methods Twenty patients with acute ischemic stroke in the brainstem and 20 normal controls were enrolled in the study. DTI was performed on all 40 subjects. Fractional anisotropy (FA) in specific regions were measured including infarction lesions, cerebral peduncle, the posterior limb of the internal capsule in the affected side and corresponding unaffected regions. The number and the length of the corticospinal tracts (CST) of both affected and unaffected sides were also measured. The correlation of FA, the number and the length of the CST, the NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) at the admission, 3 months and 6 months was analyzed. Results The FA values of infarction, cerebral peduncle, and the posterior limb of the internal capsule, and the number of CST in the affected side were significantly less than that of the corresponding unaffected regions (P<0.05). The rFA (<7 d) in the affected cerebral peduncle was negatively correlated with NIHSS and the score of the upper and lower extremity muscle strength at the admission, after 3 months and after 6 months (P<0.05). However, the rFA of the infarction and the posterior limb of the internal capsule, the ratio of the number and the length of CST of affected/unaffected sides had no correlation with NIHSS score and the score of the muscle strength. Conclusion The rFA in the cerebral peduncle is helpful for early evaluation and predicting recovery of the motor function in the patients with acute ischemic stroke in the brainstem.