Korean J Radiol.  2015 Apr;16(2):410-418. 10.3348/kjr.2015.16.2.410.

Effect of Increasing Diffusion Gradient Direction Number on Diffusion Tensor Imaging Fiber Tracking in the Human Brain

• Yao X
• Yu T
• Liang B
• Xia T
• Huang Q
• Zhuang S

• KMID: 2070185
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2015.16.2.410

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of varying the number of diffusion gradient directions (NDGDs) on diffusion tensor fiber tracking (FT) in human brain white matter using tract characteristics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twelve normal volunteers underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scanning with NDGDs of 6, 11, 15, 21, and 31 orientations. Three fiber tract groups, including the splenium of the corpus callosum (CC), the entire CC, and the full brain tract, were reconstructed by deterministic DTI-FT. Tract architecture was first qualitatively evaluated by visual observation. Six quantitative tract characteristics, including the number of fibers (NF), average length (AL), fractional anisotropy (FA), relative anisotropy (RA), mean diffusivity (MD), and volume ratio (VR) were measured for the splenium of the CC at the tract branch level, for the entire CC at tract level, and for the full brain tract at the whole brain level. Visual results and those of NF, AL, FA, RA, MD, and VR were compared among the five different NDGDs.
RESULTS
The DTI-FT with NDGD of 11, 15, 21, and 31 orientations gave better tracking results compared with NDGD of 6 after the visual evaluation. NF, FA, RA, MD, and VR values with NDGD of six were significantly greater (smallest p = 0.001 to largest p = 0.042) than those with four other NDGDs (11, 15, 21, or 31 orientations), whereas AL measured with NDGD of six was significantly smaller (smallest p = 0.001 to largest p = 0.041) than with four other NDGDs (11, 15, 21, or 31 orientations). No significant differences were observed in the results among the four NDGD groups of 11, 15, 21, and 31 directions (smallest p = 0.059 to largest p = 1.000).
CONCLUSION
The main fiber tracts were detected with NDGD of six orientations; however, the use of larger NDGD (> or = 11 orientations) could provide improved tract characteristics at the expense of longer scanning time.

Keyword

Diffusion tensor imaging; Number of diffusion gradient directions; Fiber tracking; Tract characteristics

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anisotropy
Diffusion Tensor Imaging/*methods
Female
Humans
Male
White Matter/*radiography
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Comparison of splenium of corpus callosum using diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking with five diffusion gradient directions (NDGDs). A. NDGD of 6. B. NDGD of 11. C. NDGD of 15. D. NDGD of 21. E. NDGD of 31. As described in this paper, higher NDGD (11, 15, 21, and 31 orientations) (green arrows in B-E) detected longer fibers that extended into bilateral temporal lobes. Here, green arrows are used to emphasize demonstration of increasing NDGD on fiber tracking at higher NDGDs.

• 

  Fig. 2 Comparison of corpus callosum using diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking with five diffusion gradient directions (NDGDs). A. NDGD of 6. B. NDGD of 11. C. NDGD of 15. D. NDGD of 21. E. NDGD of 31. As described in this paper, more branches of corpus callosum were propagated with increasing NDGD, and there were no main differences at NDGDs of 11, 15, 21, and 31, as shown in B-E by white arrows. Here, white arrows are implemented to point out variation of increasing NDGD on fiber tracking at higher NDGDs.

• 

  Fig. 3 Comparison of full brain tract using diffusion tensor imaging fiber tracking with five diffusion gradient directions (NDGDs). A. NDGD of 6. B. NDGD of 11. C. NDGD of 15. D. NDGD of 21. E. NDGD of 31. As described in this paper, more tracts were extended to brainstem and cerebellum with high fractional anisotropy (FA) values (labeled by yellow arrows) at five higher NDGDs. Some low FA value tracts in parietal lobe showed different configurations; one such difference is indicated by red arrows. Used arrows are applied to distinguish differences of fiber tracking with increasing NDGDs.

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