Abnormal white matter signal on MR imaging is related to abnormal tissue microstructure

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: White matter signal-intensity abnormalities (WMSA) on MR imaging are related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely preterm infants. Diffusion tensor maging (DTI) may detect alterations in cerebral white matter microstructure and thus may help confirm the pathologic basis of WMSA. This study aimed to relate regional DTI measures with severity of WMSA in very preterm infants MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred eleven preterm infants (birth weight, <1250 g and/or gestational age, <30 weeks) were scanned at term-equivalent age (1.5T). WMSA were classified as normal, focal, or extensive. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial (λ..