Diffusion Tensor MRI on Evaluation of Microstructural Abnormality Compatible with the Motor Weakness in Children with Brain Injury.

, Lee, Zee Ihn

Case Report

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2003;27(3):446-450.

Lee, Zee Ihn

Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Daegu Catholic University College of Medicine, Korea. zilee@hanmail.net

뇌 손상 환아의 미세병변 진단에 있어 확산텐서 자기공명영상의 유용성 ⁣증례 보고⁣

이지인

대구가톨릭의과대학 재활의학교실

Abstract

We present four pediatric cases examined by diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) to investigate microstructural abnormalities of brain related to their neurologic disability and motor weakness, following absence of any remarkable lesion on the motor pathway in conventional MRI. DTI is a relatively novel MR technique that enables investigation of the orientation and integrity of white matter fiber tracts of the brain in vivo. Case 1, 2 and 3 had suffered from cerebral palsy and case 4 had developed left hemiparesis

after a traumatic brain injury. Conventional brain MRI presented no specific abnormality in case 1 and 2, a focal encephalomalacia in the left anterior thalamus in case 3, and contusional hemorrhages in the left temporal and parietal lobes in case 4. But DTI disclosed microstructural abnormalities on descending motor pathway including the posterior limb of the internal capsule or the cerebral peduncle of the midbrain in all cases. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2003; 27: 446-450)

Key Words: Diffusion tensor MRI, Microstructural abnormality, Pediatric patient, Brain injury, Rehabilitation