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Abstract #24547 Published in IGR 11-4
Optic nerve and optic radiation neurodegeneration in glaucoma patients: An in vivo analysis with 3 tesla MR diffusion tensor imaging
Ondo EA; Meschini E; Garaci F; Bolacchi F; Manenti G; Melis M; Floris R; Nucci C; Simonetti GNeuroradiology 2009; 51: S96
PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to evaluate by high field magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) the axonal architecture of the optic nerves and optic radiations in glaucoma patients and to assess whether MRI DTI derived parameters correlate with disease severity. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was approved by the institutional review board. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants. Sixteen patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were included in the study. Glaucoma severity was clinically assessed by a six stages system based on static threshold visual field parameter). Ten healthy subjects were used as controls. MR-DTI was performed with a 3-Tesla MR scanner. Mean diffusivity (MD) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps were automatically created. Regions of interest (ROIs) were positioned over the MD and FA maps and a mean MD value (mMD) and mean FA value (mFA) were calculated for each optic nerve and optic radiation. RESULTS The optic radiations and the optic nerves of patients with glaucoma presented statistically significant higher MDs and lower FAs than those of control subjects. The mMD values of the optic nerve and the glaucoma stages varied together consistently (r=0.8087, p<0.0001). A negative correlation was found between the mFAvalues of the optic nerves and the glaucoma stages (r=-0.7464, p<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Glaucoma is a complex neuro-disease that affects optic nerves and optic radiations. MR-DTI derived MD and FA of optic nerves correlate with glaucoma severity, suggesting that they could play a role as complementary indicators of disease severity.
E.A. Ondo. University of Rome Tor Vergata, Dipartment of Diagnostic Imaging and Interventional Radiology, RomeItaly.
Classification:
15 Miscellaneous
2.15 Optic nerve (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
2.16 Chiasma and retrochiasmal central nervous system (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)
