Evaluation of radiation-induced peripheral nerve injury in rabbits with MR neurography using diffusion tensor imaging and T2 measurements: Correlation with histological and functional changes.

摘要: PURPOSE To investigate the potential of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and T2 measurements in evaluation radiation-induced peripheral nerve injury (RIPNI). MATERIALS AND METHODS RIPNI was produced a randomly selected side sciatic each 21 rabbits while contralateral served as control. The limb function MR parameters were evaluated over 4-month period. Fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (λ∥ ), radial (λ⊥ ) values obtained using 3T for quantitative analysis. Two animals killed histological at timepoint. RESULTS value irradiated increased 1 day (63.95 ± 15.60, P = 0.012) restored month (52.34 5.38, 0.105). It progressively 2 to 4 months (60.39 10.60, 66.96 6.08, 75.51 7.39, all < 0.01). λ⊥ significantly (0.82 0.44, 0.046) slightly decreased (0.61 0.17, 0.001). gradually from 3 (0.84 0.29, 1.13 0.33, both 0.001) followed by decline (0.83 FA statistically lower than sides (0.72 0.08, 0.60 0.12, 0.51 0.11, 0.62 0.06, Changes correlated well with functional pathological changes nerve. CONCLUSION DTI may be more sensitive accurate method evaluate compared measurements. are promising indices monitoring RIPNI. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2016;43:1492-1499.