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DTI-based deterministic fibre tracking of the medial forebrain bundle

  • Clinical Article - Functional
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) was reported to reduce symptoms in psychiatric disorders. The aim of our study was to find standardised parameters for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) based fibre tracking to reliably visualise the MFB.

Methods

Twenty-two cerebral hemispheres in 11 patients were investigated. Three different regions of interest (ROIs) were defined as seed regions for fibre tracking: the ipsilateral and contralateral superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP) and the nucleus raphe dorsalis (NRD). From each seed region the fibres were followed separately through the ventral tegmental area (VTA = second ROI) and their further courses and volumina were documented and compared. Minimal fibre length was set at 30 mm and the FA threshold at 0.12.

Results

The fibre tracts starting in seed regions in the ipsilateral SCP and the NRD follow a similar course along the lateral wall of the third ventricle (hypothalamus) and the anterior limb of the internal capsule (ALIC) to inferior fronto-medial brain areas. These fibres are in accordance with the course of the MFB as described in various anatomical atlases. Consistently, a branch leaves the main fibre tract laterally to take a course through the capsula externa to the temporo-parietal cortex. Fibre tracts starting from the contralateral SCP follow a more superior and lateral course, including the dentato-rubro-thalamic and the pyramidal tract.

Conclusions

Deterministic fibre tracking with standardised ROIs provides constant and reproducible delineations of the medial forebrain bundle. Its visualisation might help to adjust targeting in DBS for psychiatric disorders.

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Conflicts of interest

J. Anthofer has received travel grants and training fees for educational courses in functional neurosurgery from Medtronic.

K. Steib has received travel grants and training fees for educational courses in functional neurosurgery from Medtronic and St. Jude Medical.

J. Schlaier has received teaching honoraria from Medtronic, Inc. and research support from the following companies: St. Jude Medical, Antisense Pharma and Medtronic. He has given several talks which were partly sponsored by Medtronic, St. Jude Medical or BrainLab. He serves as consultant to Medtronic, Inc. and receives compensation for these services.

C. Fellner reports no conflict of interest.

E. Rothenfusser received fees for serving as a speaker in courses sponsored by Ipsen and Merz.

A. Brawanski reports no conflict of interest.

M. Lange has received fees for serving as a speaker, a consultant and an advisory board member for Medtronic and UCB, and has received research funding from UCB and St. Jude Medical.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Judith Maria Anthofer, Kathrin Steib, Max Lange, Alexander Brawanski & Juergen Schlaier

  2. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Claudia Fellner

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  1. Judith Maria Anthofer
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  2. Kathrin Steib
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  3. Claudia Fellner
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Correspondence to Judith Maria Anthofer.

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Anthofer, J.M., Steib, K., Fellner, C. et al. DTI-based deterministic fibre tracking of the medial forebrain bundle. Acta Neurochir 157, 469–477 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-014-2335-y

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