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A quantitative and clinical evaluation of nerve roots in lumbosacral radiculopathy using diffusion tensor imaging

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of compressed nerves derived in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and the corresponding clinical symptoms for quantitative and clinical evaluation in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy.

Methods

Thirty-six patients and ten volunteers participated in the study and measured with DTI. The resultant FA values for L5–S1 lumbar nerve roots were calculated at three sub-regions. Additionally, the DTI relevant tractography was also performed on L4–S1 nerve roots. Clinical symptoms were performed by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scoring for each patient and volunteer.

Results

The FA values of the nerves at the symptomatic side were significantly lower than those at the asymptomatic side (p < 0.001). Diffusion tensor tractography distinctly showed abnormalities in the symptomatic nerve tracts. There was a significant correlation between JOA scores and the FA values of the compressed nerves at middle and distal sub-regions (p < 0.005).

Conclusion

The clinical symptoms associated robustly with the DTI derived FA values of the compressed nerves in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy. Therefore, the FA values can be a potential clinical tool to evaluate the nerve roots in lumbosacral radiculopathy quantitatively.

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Abbreviations

FA:

Fractional anisotropy

DTI:

Diffusion tensor imaging

JOA:

Japanese Orthopedic Association

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

ROI:

Region of interest

ODI:

Oswestry Disability Index

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, 210029, People’s Republic of China

    Yin Shi, Yuefen Zou, Yang Feng, Hongyuan Ding, Chuanbing Wang & Haibin Shi

  2. GE Healthcare, MR Research, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Weiqiang Dou

  3. The Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, People’s Republic of China

    Feng Zhao

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  1. Yin Shi
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  2. Yuefen Zou
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  3. Yang Feng
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  6. Chuanbing Wang
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  7. Feng Zhao
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Correspondence to Haibin Shi.

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Ethical approval was given by the medical ethics committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University with the following reference number: 2014-SR-050.

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Shi, Y., Zou, Y., Feng, Y. et al. A quantitative and clinical evaluation of nerve roots in lumbosacral radiculopathy using diffusion tensor imaging. Jpn J Radiol 38, 222–230 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-019-00913-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-019-00913-4

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