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Diffusion tensor imaging of peripheral nerves

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Abstract

Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) allows the directional dependence of water diffusion to be studied. Analysis of the resulting image data allows for the determination of fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), as well as allowing three-dimensional visualization of the fiber tract (tractography). We visualized the ulnar nerve of ten healthy volunteers with DTI. We found FA to be 0.752 ± 0.067 and the ADC to be 0.96 ± 0.13 × 10−3 mm2/s. A nuts-and-bolts description of the physical aspects of DTI is provided as an educational process for readers.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the assistance of Angela Galotti in the review of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. SUNY Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Sachin Jambawalikar, Terry Button, Haifang Li, Veronica Geronimo & Elaine S. Gould

  2. Nebraska-Iowa Radiology Consultants, 11111 South 84th street, Papillion, NE, 68046, USA

    Jeremy Baum

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  1. Sachin Jambawalikar
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Correspondence to Elaine S. Gould.

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Jambawalikar, S., Baum, J., Button, T. et al. Diffusion tensor imaging of peripheral nerves. Skeletal Radiol 39, 1073–1079 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-010-0974-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-010-0974-5

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