Curvature range measurements of the arcuate fasciculus using diffusion tensor tractography

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 8; no. 3; pp. 244 - 250
• Main Authors: Lee, Dong Hoon, Hong, Cheol Pyo, Kwon, Yong Hyun, Hwang, Yoon Tae, Kim, Joong Hwi, Park, Ji Won
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 25.01.2013; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Department of Radiological Science, College of Health Science, Yonsei University, Gangwondo 220-710, Republic of Korea%Department of Physical Therapy, Yeungnam College of Science & Technology, Daegu 705-703, Republic of Korea%Department of Physical Therapy, Gangneung Yeongdong College, Gangwondo 210-792, Republic of Korea%Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Science, Catholic University of Daegu, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk 712-702, Republic of Korea; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Aphasia; Brain; Brain mapping; Brain research; Care and treatment; Hospitals; Language; Localization; Medical imaging; Methods; Neuroimaging; Research and Report : Emerging Technology in Neuroregeneration; Studies; 半球; 定量评估; 成像; 扩散张量; 曲率; 测量范围; 神经通路; 纤维束; grant-supported paper; aphasia; Broca's area; indirect curvature range; arcuate fasciculus; anatomical location; Wernicke's area; photographs-containing paper; clinical practice; arched fiber; neuroimaging; direct curvature range; neural regeneration; diffusion tensor tractography; neuroregeneration; diffusion tensor imaging; quantitative information; Wern
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.03.006

Because Broca＇s area and Wernicke＇s area in the brain are connected by the arcuate fasciculus, understanding the anatomical location and morphometry of the arcuate fasciculus can help in the treatment of patients with aphasia. We measured the horizontal and vertical curvature ranges of the arcuate fasciculus in both hemispheres in 12 healthy subjects using diffusion tensor tractography. In the right hemisphere, the direct curvature range and indirect curvature range values of the arcuate fasciculus horizontal part were 121.13 ± 5.89 and 25.99 ± 3.01 degrees, respectively, and in the left hemisphere, the values were 121.83 ± 5.33 and 27.40 ± 2.96 degrees, respectively. In the right hemisphere, the direct curvature range and indirect curvature range values of the arcuate fasciculus vertical part were 43.97 ± 7.98 and 30.15 ± 3.82 degrees, respectively, and in the left hemisphere, the values were 39.39 ± 4.42 and 24.08 ± 4.34 degrees, respectively. We believe that the measured curvature ranges are important data for localization and quantitative assessment of specific neuronal pathways in patients presenting with arcuate fasciculus abnormalities.