Combined structural and neurochemical evaluation of the corticospinal tract in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- 1 January 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Vol. 11 (1-2), 157-165
- https://doi.org/10.3109/17482960902756473
Abstract
Our objective was to characterize the structural and metabolic changes of the corticospinal tract (CST) in ALS patients using combined diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Fourteen patients (male:female, 6:8; mean age, 54 years) and 14 controls (male:female, 8:6; mean age, 53 years) underwent imaging. Four regions of the CST were evaluated: precentral gyrus, corona radiata, posterior limb of the internal capsule, and cerebral peduncle. DTI and MRSI indices tested included fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and the ratio of N-acetylaspartate to choline (NAA/Cho) and creatine (NAA/Cr). In the precentral gyrus, NAA/Cho was reduced 18% (pp=0.01), and FA was reduced 3% (p=0.02). NAA/Cho and NAA/Cr were reduced in the corona radiata (pr=0.66, p=0.02) and faster disease progression (r=−0.65, p=0.008). Increased spasticity correlated with higher ADC in the precentral gyrus (R=0.52, p=0.005). In conclusion, both MRSI and DTI provided in vivo evidence of intracranial degeneration of the CST in ALS that was most prominent rostrally in the precentral gyrus.Keywords
This publication has 39 references indexed in Scilit:
- Evaluation of corticospinal tracts in ALS with diffusion tensor MRI and brainstem stimulationNeurology, 2008
- Diffusion tensor imaging and voxel based morphometry study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: relationships with motor disabilityJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2007
- Spatial Profiling of the Corticospinal Tract in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Diffusion Tensor ImagingJournal of Neuroimaging, 2007
- Quantitative objective markers for upper and lower motor neuron dysfunction in ALSNeurology, 2007
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Diffusion-Tensor and Chemical Shift MR Imaging at 3.0 TRadiology, 2006
- Diffusion tensor MRI as a diagnostic tool of upper motor neuron involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosisJournal of the Neurological Sciences, 2004
- Combined MR spectroscopic imaging and diffusion tensor MRI visualizes corticospinal tract degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosisZeitschrift für Neurologie, 2004
- Corticospinal tract degeneration and possible pathogenesis in ALS evaluated by MR diffusion tensor imagingAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, 2004
- Diffusion tensor MRI assesses corticospinal tract damage in ALSNeurology, 1999
- Detection of cortical neuron loss in motor neuron disease by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging in vivoNeurology, 1994