Acta radiologica
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Comparative Study
Effect of surgery on periventricular white matter in normal pressure hydrocephalus patients: comparison of two methods of DTI analysis.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a useful tool for assessing changes that occur in microstructures. We have developed a novel method for region of interest (ROI) delineation in the assessment of DTI parameters in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). ⋯ Our results show that use of a novel method of DTI data analysis may be more sensitive to local changes induced by surgical procedures. Furthermore, this novel method was able to detect the transmantle pressure gradient related to the regional stress distribution.
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Compared to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the brain, there is a paucity of reports addressing the applicability of DTI in the evaluation of the spinal cord. Most normative data of cervical spinal cord DTI consist of relatively small and arbitrarily collected populations. Comprehensive normative data are necessary for clinical decision-making. ⋯ Both ROI- and FT-based measurements are applicable methods yielding reproducible results for cervical spinal cord DTI metrics. Normative values for both measurement methods are presented.
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Ultrashort echo time (UTE) image to directly visualize short T2 tissues requires postprocessing for the suppression of the surrounding long T2 tissues in a clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. Weighted subtraction of UTE images with an optimal weighting factor could provide high positive contrast with adequate suppression. ⋯ The 3D UTE MRI provides imaging of short T2 tissues which cannot be visualized by conventional MRI. Using weighted subtractions with optimal weighting values, each tissue can be optimally depicted by overcoming the reduced T2 contrast.