Correlation between DTI features of compressed nerve roots and clinical symptoms in patients with lumbar disc herniation / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore changes of parameters of compressed nerve roots on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and relationship between the parameters and symptoms assessed with Oswestry disability index (ODI) and visual analogue score (VAS) in patients with lumbar disc herniation.Methods Twenty-five patients confirmed by surgery for single compressed nerve root with lumbar disc herniation who underwent DTI scanning before operation were enrolled.All patients were scored using ODI and VAS,and the areas of characteristic leg pain were compared with compressed nerve root for ODI and VAS.Results FA values of the compressed and normal nerve roots of these patients were 0.26 ±-0.05 and 0.36-±-0.05,while ADC values were (1.69 ±-0.32) × 10-3 mm2/s and (1.56 ± 0.21) × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.Negative correlation was found between FA values of the compressed nerve roots and ODI (r=-0.88,P＜0.01) as well as VAS (r=-0.66,P＜0.01),but no correlation between ADC values and ODI (r=0.30,P =0.15) nor VAS (r=0.36,P =0.08) was found.Conclusion FA values derived from DTI maybe vital parameters of quantifying changes of structure of nerve root.Injury of nerve root structure in patients with lumbar disc herniation could be crucial for clinical symptoms.