Diffusion tensor imaging with multiple diffusion-weighted gradient directions

作者：Jiang Shan^*; Liu Meixia; Han Tong; Liu Weihua

来源：Neural Regeneration Research, 2011, 6(1): 66-71.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2011.01.011

• diffusion tensor imaging
• neural tissue
• tensor matrix
• multiple linear regression
• condition number

Diffusion tensor MRI (DT-MRI or DTI) is emerging as an important non-invasive technology for elucidating internal brain structures. It has recently been utilized to diagnose a series of diseases that affect the integrity of neural systems to provide a basis for neuroregenerative studies. Results from the present study suggested that neural tissue is reconstructed with multiple diffusion-weighted gradient directions DTI, which varies from traditional imaging methods that utilize 6 gradient directions. Simultaneously, the diffusion tensor matrix is obtained by multiple linear regressions from an equation of echo signal intensity. The condition number value and standard deviation of fractional anisotropy for each scheme can be used to evaluate image quality. Results demonstrated that increasing gradient direction to some extent resulted in improved effects. Therefore, the traditional 6 and 15 directions should not be considered optimal scan protocols for clinical DTI application. In a scheme with 20 directions, the condition number and standard deviation of fractional anisotropy of the encoding gradients matrix were significantly reduced, and resulted in more clearly and accurately displayed neural tissue. Results demonstrated that the scheme with 20 diffusion gradient directions provided better accuracy of structural renderings and could be an optimal scan protocol for clinical DTI application.

• 出版日期2011-1-5
• 单位天津市环湖医院; 天津大学