Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor tracking technique for morphological study of cervical intraspinal tumors

Abstract

Objective To investigate the diffusion tensor tracking(DTT)imaging character of patients with cervical intraspinal tumors,and to study its association with spinal cord function and prognosis.Methods A total of 24 cervical intraspinal tumors were surgically removed from Feb.2014 to Jan.2015.Cervical diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)scan was performed in all patients three days preoperatively and one month postoperatively.The white matter fiber bundle was reconstructed by DTT to observe its traveling routes and integrity,and the spinal cord function was assessed by McCormick grading.Results DTT was able to distinctly display whether the tractography of white matter fiber bundle was full or sparse,intact or interrupted.The technique could also display the spacial relationship(displacement or encasement)between the tumor and fiber bundle.The preoperative tractography was found to be correlated with McCormick grading and prognosis of spinal cord function.Preoperative spinal cord function and prognosis one month postoperatively were significantly better in patients with intact fiber bundle than those with interrupted one(P0.05).Conclusion DTT can directly display the morphology of white matter fiber bundle,and may also help to predict the prognosis of cervical intraspinal tumors.