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Journal of Neuroradiology
Sous presse. Epreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le vendredi 1 juillet 2011
Doi : 10.1016/j.neurad.2011.05.002
Diffusion tensor imaging of the maturing paediatric cervical spinal cord: From the neonate to the young adult
Imagerie du tenseur de diffusion de la maturation de la moelle cervicale chez l’enfant : de la période néonatale à l’âge adulte
 

Samata Singhi a, Aylin Tekes a, Majda Thurnher b, Wesley D. Gilson c, Izlem Izbudak d, Carol B. Thompson e, Thierry A.G.M. Huisman a, ⁎
a Division of Pediatric Radiology, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600, North Wolfe Street, Nelson Basement, B-173, MD 21287-0842 Baltimore, USA 
b Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria 
c Siemens Corporate Research, MD, Baltimore, USA 
d Division of Neuroradiology, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Hospital, MD, Baltimore, USA 
e Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MD, Baltimore, USA 

Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 410 955 6140; fax: +1 410 434 3908.
Summary
Objective

Normative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) metrics of the brain have been published previously. However, no larger studies evaluated the normal evolution of ADC/FA metrics of the maturing paediatric spinal cord. Goal of this study is to evaluate the age-dependent evolution of the ADC/FA values of the developing/maturing normal cervical spinal cord (CSC).

Patients and methods

Forty-one subjects, aged less than 18 years with a negative spinal MRI study and no systemic central nervous disease, underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the CSC. DTI metrics were measured in the centre of the CSC. Regression and ANCOVA analyses were performed to evaluate the association between ADC/FA values and age and its potential modification by sex.

Results

A linear model emerged as the best fit for our data. ADC showed a continuous decrease with age; FA showed a continuous increase with age.

Conclusion

The simultaneous age-related ADC decrease and FA increase likely reflect progressive maturation, myelination and fibre packing within the CSC similar to that observed in the brain. Collection of age-dependent normative DTI metrics may be helpful in the early identification and quantification of altered water diffusion in a variety of pathologies affecting the developing paediatric spinal cord.


Keywords : DTI, Paediatric cervical spine, Maturation, Normative values


OutlineMasquer le plan
Introduction
Patients and methods  (+)
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Disclosure of interest


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