"Restricted Diffusion" within the Splenium of the Corpus Callosum: A Potential Pitfall in Young Infants on 3T Imaging and Marker of Normal Myelin Maturation.

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of "restricted diffusion" within the splenium of the corpus callosum (SOCC) on 3 Tesla (T) and 1.5T imaging systems and to establish the contribution of myelin maturation to the presence of "restricted diffusion" within the SOCC. The imaging database at our hospital was queried to build three cohorts of patients: (1) age < 4 months, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans done on a 3T system; (2) age < 4 months, with MRI scans done on a 1.5T system; and (3) age ≥ 4 months, with MRI scans done on a 3T system, for retrospective analysis. A total of 101 MRI scans were reviewed. "Restricted diffusion" within the SOCC was present in 26 of 29 (90%) patients from cohort 1, in 1 of 37 (3%) patients from cohort 2, and in 1 of 35 (3%) patients from cohort 3. There is a significant difference in the prevalence of "restricted diffusion" in the SOCC between the three cohorts of patients. "Restricted diffusion" within the SOCC may be a normal finding in infants less than 4 months of age, imaged on a 3T system. The presence of "restricted diffusion" within the splenium may serve as a potential marker of normal brain maturation.