Fractional Anisotropy of Diffusion Tensor Imaging as a Predict Factor in Patient with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Abstract

Purpose : Diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) allows the visualization of fiber tract damage in patients with cerebral infarction. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the correlation between degree of NIH stoke scale and fractional anisotropy (FA) in patient with cerebral infarction. Material and Methods : 16 patients aged 36~77 years(male : 11, female : 5, mean age : 61y), diagnosed cerebral infarction by diffusion weighted imaging(DWI), underwent 24 directional diffusion tensor imaging(DTI). Patients had the DTI taken within 3days of stroke onset. Comparison of DWI, FA value on DTI were measured infarcted area and counter part of specific region of interest (ROI). And evaluation of differences between clinically improved patient group (n=9) and unimproved patient group (n=7) until 2 week follow up after development of cerebral infarction. Clinical status was scaled by NIH stroke scale. Results : Quantitative measurements of FA confirmed statistically the significant diffusion changes in the infarct compared with the matched-counter part region. In DWI, the infarcted area shows high signal intensity, however FA value on DTI was lower than normal brain parenchyma. The FA value of clinically improved patient by NIH stroke scale was 0.49, and the value of contralateral normal brain parenchyma was 0.41. On the contrary, FA value of infarcted area shows about 15% lower than normal brain parenchyma. But, the FA value of unimproved patient by NIH stroke scale represents a half those of contralateral normal brain parenchyma (0.28 on infarcted area vs. 0.56 on normal brain parenchyma). So, the FA value of unimproved patient group was considerably less than those of improved. Conclusion : It is concluded that the unimproved patient group after cerebral infarction showed much less FA value than that of normal brain parenchyma. The FA value of DTI may be one of the useful parameter to predict outcome of cerebral infarction patients.