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Diffusion tensor imaging findings in young children with benign external hydrocephalus differ from the normal population

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Abstract

Purpose

To compare a pediatric population diagnosed with benign external hydrocephalus (BEH) to normal age-matched controls using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) techniques.

Methods

We retrospectivelyidentified 17 BEH patients by specific clinical and neuroimaging criteria. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values obtained from DTI scans were compared to a population of age-matched controls andgroup differences were examined by mixed model analysis. A longitudinal comparison was completed on a subset that underwent multiple scans (n = 8).

Results

In the genu of the corpus callosum (gCC), six of 15 BEH children had an FA value above the upper limit of 95% prediction interval, nine of 15 BEH children had MD values below the lower limit of 95% prediction interval. A similar trend applied to the other regions of interest (ROIs): splenium of the corpus callosum (sCC), ALIC, and PLIC. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in FA within the gCC, sCC, and PLIC and in MD within the sCC between BEH patients and controls given (P = 0.05). No statistical differences were identified at any ROIs at the later scans.

Conclusions

We found a significant increase in FA and decrease in MD in children with BEH compared with normal children in specific white matter (WM) ROIs, notably in the gCC and sCC; furthermore, in longitudinal comparison, DTI parameters normalized over time. The current study further demonstrates the ability of DTI to distinguish between subtle diffusion changes in periventricular white matter andestablishes preliminary objective radiographic parameters for watchful observation of patients with BEH.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Robert L. McLaurin MD Faculty Development Scholarship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, MLC 2016, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 44529, USA

    M. Sun, D. A. Hertzler, A. Cancelliere & F. T. Mangano

  2. Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, MLC 2016, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 44529, USA

    W. Yuan

  3. Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, MLC 2016, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 44529, USA

    M. Altaye

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  1. M. Sun
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  2. W. Yuan
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  3. D. A. Hertzler
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  4. A. Cancelliere
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  5. M. Altaye
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  6. F. T. Mangano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. T. Mangano.

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Sun, M., Yuan, W., Hertzler, D.A. et al. Diffusion tensor imaging findings in young children with benign external hydrocephalus differ from the normal population. Childs Nerv Syst 28, 199–208 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-011-1651-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-011-1651-2

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