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Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Tractography of the spinal cord in pediatric population with spinal lipomas: preliminary study

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Abstract

Purpose

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows studying the micro and macro architecture. One of the major challenges in dysraphism is to know the morphologic organization of the spinal cord. In a preliminary work, spinal lipoma was chosen for analyzing the micro-architecture parameters and fiber morphology of the spinal cord by DTI with tractography.

Methods

Twelve patients (0–8 years) related to spinal lipomas treated between May 2017 and March 2018 were included. Tractography reconstruction of the conus medullaris of 12 patients were obtained using the MedINRIA software. The diffusion parameters have been calculated by Osirix DTImap plugin.

Results

We found a significant difference in the FA (p = 0.024) between two age groups (< 24 months old and > 24 months old). However, no significant differences in the mean values of FA, RD, and MD between the level of the lipoma and the level above were noted. The tractography obtained in each case was coherent with morphologic sequences and reproducible. The conus medullaris was deformed and shifted. Destruction or disorganization of fibers and any passing inside the lipomas was not observed.

Conclusions

Tractography of the conus medullaris in a very young pediatric population (0–8 years old) with a spinal lipoma is possible, reproductive, and allows visualization of the spinal cord within the dysraphism. Analysis of the FA shows that the presence of a lipoma seems to have an effect on the myelination of the conus medullaris. It is during the probable myelination phase that the majority of symptoms appear. Is the myelination per se the cause?

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Avenue Albert Raimond 42270 Saint Priest en Jarez, Saint Etienne, France

    Pierre Antherieu

  2. Department of Pediatric Radiology, Necker –Enfants Malades’s Medical Center, Paris, France

    R. Levy & N. Boddaert

  3. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Necker –Enfants Malades’s Medical Center, Paris, France

    T. De Saint Denis, G. Paternoster & M. Zerah

  4. Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University Medical Center, Lyon, France

    L. Lohkamp & F. Di Rocco

Authors
  1. Pierre Antherieu
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  2. R. Levy
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  3. T. De Saint Denis
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Correspondence to Pierre Antherieu.

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We declare that we have no conflict of interest to declare.

Additional information

The original version of this article was revised: The figures and figure captions were interchanged during the publication process of the paper.

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Antherieu, P., Levy, R., De Saint Denis, T. et al. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and Tractography of the spinal cord in pediatric population with spinal lipomas: preliminary study. Childs Nerv Syst 35, 129–137 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3935-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-018-3935-2

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