Study On Development Of Splenium Corporis Callosi And Occipital Forceps In Normal Children: Assessment With Diffusion Tensor Technology

Study on Development of Splenium Corporis Callosi and Occipital Forceps in Normal Children:Assessment with Diffusion Tensor TechnologyPart I Study of the Scanning Parameter for MR Diffusion Tensor of Cerebral White Matter Fiber in ChildrenPurpose:To search the best scanning parameter for MR diffusion tensor in white matter fiber in children. Materials and Method: Diffusion tensor imaging of the cerebral white matter fiber was performed in 20 healthy children, who were randomly divided into four groups. Different parameters including magnetic field intensity, b-value, the number of the diffusion sensitive gradient direction, and slice thickness were applied and their impaction on the FA maps and ColFA maps were evaluated. Each child was scanned in different axial position. Results: Different parameters had different impaction on the quality of FA and ColFA maps. Different magnetic field intensity provided similar quality. Changing the phase encoded direction had little to do with the accuracy of FA value. The quality of images was better in low b-value, and the noise became greater in high b-value. The more the number of directions, the greater signal noise ratio was not. Slice thickness had the greatest impaction on the SNR of the images, but too thick slice influenced the accuracy of the measurement. Conclusions: DTI scanning parameter should be adjusted accordingly through clinical work.Part II Study on Splenium Corporis Callosi and Occipital Forceps in Normal Children with Diffusion Tensor ImagingPurpose:To study the splenium corporis callosi and occipital forceps in normal children and the influence factor. Materials and Method: 120 children (M 60, F 60, 2 months-18 years) without abnormal central nervous system signs or symptoms and with normal head MRI were classified into five groups according to their ages: Group 1 (≤1 year old, M 11, F 11), Group 2 (>1-3 year old, M 10, F 10), Group 3 (>3-6 year old, M 12, F 10), Group 4 (>6-12 year old, M 18, F 12) and Group 5 (>12-18 year old, M 13, F 13). DTI was performed, and the FA and ADC value were measured on splenium corporis callosi and occipital forceps. The angles formed by splenium corporis callosi and occipital forceps were measured in FA maps. DTT was utilized to track white matter fiber. Results: (1) There was no significant statistical difference in FA or ADC value of splenium corporis callosi and occipital forceps between cerebral hemispheres or between genders. (2) There was a positive correlation between age and FA value of splenium corporis callosi and occipital forceps, while the ADC value is opposite. (3) The density of the white matter fibers increased with increased age. (4) There is a significant difference in angles formed by splenium corporis callosi and occipital forceps between genders, and a negative correlation with ages. Conclusions: (1) DTI can reflect the law of myelinization. (2) The development of cerebral white matter in children might be different between genders. (3) The FA and ADC value measured can be a reference to further research.