Fractional anisotropy values of brain matter among healthy children: cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) is currently a well studied and applied in clinical practice technique. An important advantage of this technique the measurement fractional anisotropy (FA) values, which make it possible to quantify changes brain matter. The authors are aware publications on study FА values among children small groups including only part ages. This work presents FA large amount examined notes for most significant structures subjects from 4 months 18 years age. OBJECTIVE: Analysis anatomical different age who did not reveal matter during multiparametric MRI, order further processes development myelination structures, as use these reference analysis pathology. MATERIALS AND METHODS : 153 patients aged were examined. MRI was performed recommendation attending physician accordance with indications case suspected infection paranasal sinuses neurological complaints, without focal symptoms. Distribution by was: up 1 year (infant age) — 6 (3.9%); 3 (early childhood) 14 (9.15%); 7 old (preschool 39 (25.5%); older than (school older) 94 (61.45%). gender: male 82 (53.6%); female 71 (46.4%). DT-MRI all diffusion 15 directions, then measured 21 areas white gray brain. regions interest (ROI) arranged zones ASPECTS PC-ASPECTS scales adapted purposes study. Statistics: processing received data carried out using application programs: Microsoft Excel, Statistica 10 an assessment normality distribution parametric nonparametric criteria. RESULTS: highest mean numerical found along neural pathways: 0.66±0.04 internal capsule; 0.68±0.05 midbrain; 0.64±0.08 at level pons; 0.69±0.04 cerebellar peduncles. indices other slightly lower: 0.50±0.08 M4 according ASPECTS; 0.52±0.08 occipital lobe basal ganglia; 0.54±0.05 temporal lobe. lowest appeared matter: 0.16±0.04 caudate nucleus; 0.12±0.04 ASPECTS. pronounced differences early childhood school ROI located cerebral cortex: area M5 0.46±0.05 versus 0.54±0.05, respectively; M1 0.43±0.06 0.51±0.06, respectively. At same time, stem less pronounced: pons 0.6±0.07 0.64±0.07, peduncles 0.68±0.04 0.69±0.04, These indicators illustrate additionally confirm known ideas about formation pathways their myelination. They also reflect structural functional between A increase determined comparison younger cortical there no age-related region brainstem. It that preschoolers, compared old, increases nucleus midbrain. CONCLUSION: obtained normative can later be widely used ones when performing assessing neuroinfectious pathological children. revealed indicate earlier brainstem while subcortical-cortical hemispheres develop myelinate over longer time.