Voxel-based analysis of diffusion tensor indices in the brain in patients with Parkinson's disease

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 77; no. 2; pp. 269 - 273
• Main Authors: Zhang, Kaiyuan, Yu, Chunshui, Zhang, Yujin, Wu, Xiaoli, Zhu, Chaozhe, Chan, Piu, Li, Kuncheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algorithms; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - pathology; Cerebellum; Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction; Degenerative and inherited degenerative diseases of the nervous system. Leukodystrophies. Prion diseases; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Diffusion tensor imaging; Female; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers, Myelinated - pathology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; Neurology; Olfaction Disorders - etiology; Olfaction Disorders - pathology; Olfactory dysfunction; Parkinson Disease - complications; Parkinson Disease - pathology; Parkinson's disease; Radiology; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; Voxel-based analysis; Cerebellum; Voxel-based analysis; Parkinson's disease; Olfactory dysfunction; Diffusion tensor imaging; Human; Brain; Nervous system diseases; Central nervous system; Parkinson disease; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder; Encephalon; Central nervous system disease; Medical imagery; Complication; Degenerative disease; Olfactory disorder; Neurological disorder; Extrapyramidal syndrome
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2009.07.032

To investigate the abnormal diffusion in cerebral white matter and its relationship with the olfactory dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Diffusion tensor imaging of the cerebrum was performed in 25 patients with Parkinson's disease and 25 control subjects matched for age and sex. Differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between these two groups were studied by voxel-based analysis of the DTI data. Correlations between diffusion indices and the olfactory function in PD patients were evaluated using the multiple regression model after controlling for the duration of the disease, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Sale (UPDRS), and age. The damaged white and gray matter showed decreased FA or increased MD, localized bilaterally in the cerebellar and orbitofrontal cortex. In addition, in PD patients there was a positive correlation between FA values in the white matter of the left cerebellum and the thresholds of olfactory identification (TOI) and a negative correlation between MD values in the white matter of right cerebellum and the TOI. In patients with PD, there was disruption in the cerebellar white matter which may play an important role in the olfactory dysfunction in patients with Parkinson's disease.