Evaluation of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Findings in Clinically Isolated Syndrome and Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients
Özkan Alataş1
, Berrin Çavuşoğlu2, Ali Çaylak3, Ahmet Onur Keskin4, Egemen İdiman5, Fethi İdiman5, Emel Ada1
1Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Izmir, Türkiye
2Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Physics, Izmir, Türkiye
3Special Akhisar Hospital, Clinic of Radiology, Manisa, Türkiye
4Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Adana, Türkiye
5Dokuz Eylul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Izmir, Türkiye
Keywords: Clinically isolated syndrome, relapse-remitting multiple sclerosis, diffusion tensor imaging
Abstract
Objective: To compare diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) findings of the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and corpus callosum (CC) in patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and a healthy control (HC) group.
Materials and Methods: The CIS (n = 10), RRMS (n = 29), and HC (n = 13) groups were evaluated by DTI in this retrospective study. Mean diffusion (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps as well as MD and FA measurements were made from the corpus callosum genu (CCG), corpus callosum splenium (CCS), and NAWM areas from the frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes.
Results: The mean FA values of the NAWM in the temporal lobes were bilaterally lower in both the CIS and RRMS groups than in the HC group. However, no difference was found between the CIS and RRMS groups. In addition, the CIS group had lower FA values in the CCG, whereas the RRMS group had lower FA values in the CCS compared with the HC group. The MD values were significantly different in the CCG between the RRMS and HC groups.
Conclusion: DTI contributes to detecting early changes in the NAWM and CC in patients diagnosed with CIS and RRMS. Additionally, DTI can aid in the follow-up care and management of these patients.
Approval for the study was received from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Dokuz Eylul University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (decision no: 2013/21-02, date: 06.06.2013).
Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Externally and internally peer-reviewed.
Concept: Ö.A., E.İ., F.İ., E.A., Design: Ö.A., E.İ., F.İ., E.A., Data Collection or Processing: Ö.A., A.Ç., O.K., E.İ., F.İ., E.A., Analysis or Interpretation: Ö.A., B.Ç., A.Ç., O.K., E.A., Literature Search: Ö.A., B.Ç., A.Ç., O.K., E.A., Writing: Ö.A., B.Ç., A.Ç., O.K., E.İ., F.İ., E.A.
No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
The authors declared that this study received no financial support.