Open Access

Diffusion tensor imaging of occult injury of optic radiation following optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis

  • Authors:
    • Jiafeng Chen
    • Lijun Zhu
    • He Li
    • Ziwen Lu
    • Xin Chen
    • Shaokuan Fang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 31, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3635
  • Pages: 2505-2510
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is easily detected by routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, it is not possible to detect early or occult lesions in MS by routine MRI, and this may explain the inconsistency between the severity of the lesions found by MRI and the degree of clinical disability of patients with MS. The present study included 10 patients with relapsing‑remitting MS and 10 healthy volunteers. Each patient underwent routine 3.0 T MRI, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT). Optic nerve and optic radiation were analyzed by DTI and DTT. The fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), λ||, and λ┴ values were measured. In the 10 patients with MS, 7 optic nerves were affected, and 13 optic nerves were not affected. Cranial MRI showed that optic nerve thickening and hyperintensity occurred in 2 patients with MS. In the directionally encoded color maps, a hypointensive green signal in the optic nerve was observed in 3 patients with MS. The FA values were significantly lower and the MD, λ||, and λ┴ values were significantly higher in the affected and unaffected optic nerves and optic radiations in patients with MS in comparison with controls (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in these values between the affected and unaffected optic nerves and optic radiation in patients with MS (P>0.05). Diffusion tensor imaging is sensitive in the detection of occult injury of the optic nerve and optic radiation following optic neuritis. Diffusion tensor imaging may be a useful tool for the early diagnosis, treatment and management of MS.
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October-2016
Volume 12 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen J, Zhu L, Li H, Lu Z, Chen X and Fang S: Diffusion tensor imaging of occult injury of optic radiation following optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis. Exp Ther Med 12: 2505-2510, 2016
APA
Chen, J., Zhu, L., Li, H., Lu, Z., Chen, X., & Fang, S. (2016). Diffusion tensor imaging of occult injury of optic radiation following optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 12, 2505-2510. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3635
MLA
Chen, J., Zhu, L., Li, H., Lu, Z., Chen, X., Fang, S."Diffusion tensor imaging of occult injury of optic radiation following optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12.4 (2016): 2505-2510.
Chicago
Chen, J., Zhu, L., Li, H., Lu, Z., Chen, X., Fang, S."Diffusion tensor imaging of occult injury of optic radiation following optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12, no. 4 (2016): 2505-2510. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3635