TY - JOUR
T1 - Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging and tractography of intracranial cavernous malformations
T2 - Preliminary observations and characterization of the hemosiderin rim
AU - Cauley, Keith A.
AU - Andrews, Trevor
AU - Gonyea, Jay V.
AU - FiliPPi, Christopher G.
PY - 2010/4
Y1 - 2010/4
N2 - Object. Cavernous malformations (CMs) can cause symptoms that appear out of proportion to the lesion size, leading one to hypothesize that they may have an effect on adjacent white matter that is not fully explained by local mass effect. The goal of this study was to investigate the diffusion tensor (DT) properties of CMs, the hemosiderin rim, and normal-appearing adjacent white matter. Methods. Eighteen cavernous malformations were characterized using standard MR imaging sequences as well as 6-direction DT imaging with single-shot echo planar-gradient echo imaging at 3 tesla. Results. Diffusion tensor imaging demonstrated that CMs have a characteristic signature on DT imaging, with low fractional anisotropy (FA) and high mean diffusivity centrally within the lesion. The hemosiderin rim had a high FA value relative to the central lesion or adjacent white matter. Tractography revealed that tracts neatly deviate around CMs. Tracts were typically seen to pass through the hemosiderin rim. Conclusions. The hemosiderin rim of CMs was intimately associated with white matter tracts that were deviated by the central lesion. These findings are consistent with histopathological reports that the hemosiderin rim is composed of blood breakdown products deposited in viable white matter.
AB - Object. Cavernous malformations (CMs) can cause symptoms that appear out of proportion to the lesion size, leading one to hypothesize that they may have an effect on adjacent white matter that is not fully explained by local mass effect. The goal of this study was to investigate the diffusion tensor (DT) properties of CMs, the hemosiderin rim, and normal-appearing adjacent white matter. Methods. Eighteen cavernous malformations were characterized using standard MR imaging sequences as well as 6-direction DT imaging with single-shot echo planar-gradient echo imaging at 3 tesla. Results. Diffusion tensor imaging demonstrated that CMs have a characteristic signature on DT imaging, with low fractional anisotropy (FA) and high mean diffusivity centrally within the lesion. The hemosiderin rim had a high FA value relative to the central lesion or adjacent white matter. Tractography revealed that tracts neatly deviate around CMs. Tracts were typically seen to pass through the hemosiderin rim. Conclusions. The hemosiderin rim of CMs was intimately associated with white matter tracts that were deviated by the central lesion. These findings are consistent with histopathological reports that the hemosiderin rim is composed of blood breakdown products deposited in viable white matter.
KW - Cavernous malformation
KW - Diffusion tensor imaging
KW - Hemosiderin
KW - Tractography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77950677902&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3171/2009.8.JNS09586
DO - 10.3171/2009.8.JNS09586
M3 - Article
C2 - 20367384
AN - SCOPUS:77950677902
SN - 0022-3085
VL - 112
SP - 814
EP - 823
JO - Journal of neurosurgery
JF - Journal of neurosurgery
IS - 4
ER -