Diffusion tensor imaging in assessing the neonatal neurobehavioral development / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)-metrics (fractional anisotropy, FA; mean diffusivity, MD; axial diffusivity, AD and radial diffusivity, RD) in assessing the neonatal neurobehavioral development. Methods From November 2010 to September 2017, 101 neonates (gestational age range, 30-42 weeks;male/female, 69/32) with no abnormalities on conventional MRI were retrospectively included. DTI scalar maps (FA, MD, AD and RD) were calculated by using FMRIB's diffusion toolbox. The tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to investigate the relationships between white matter (WM) DTI-metrics and neurobehavioral scores (i.e. behavioral and active tone). Automated fiber quantification (AFQ) was used to extract the CST (corticospinal tract), OR (optic radiation), AR (auditory radiation) and thal-PSC (thalamus-primary somatosensory cortex); Pearson correlation was further used to explore the relationships between neurobehavioral scores and DTI-metrics along the four tracts. Results TBSS results indicated that behavior scores showed significant correlations with DTI-metrics in almost the whole WM, e. g. corpus callosum, CST, OR, AR and etc (P<0.05, TFCE-FWE corrected). Significant correlations of active tone with MD, AD and RD were just observed in local WM regions, i. e. cerebral peduncle, anterior and posterior limb of internal capsule (P<0.05, TFCE-FWE corrected); while FA just showed boundary significant correlations in the above regions (P=0.055, TFCE-FWE corrected). AFQ results indicated that DTI-metrics along the almost entire CST, OR and thal-PSC showed significant correlations with behavior scores (P<0.05); while significant correlations mainly located in the initial and middle segments of AR (P<0.05). For active tone, significant correlations were only observed in the initial and middle segments of CST. Conclusions Neonatal brain WM DTI-metrics in specific sensorimotor regions, to a certain extent, could reflect the corresponding neurobehavior abilities, suggesting the potential value of DTI in assessing the neonatal neurodevelopment.