RSNA 2008 

Abstract Archives of the RSNA, 2008


SSJ19-05

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of the Central Auditory Pathway in Patients with Longstanding Unilateral Tinnitus

Scientific Papers

Presented on December 2, 2008
Presented as part of SSJ19: Neuroradiology/Head and Neck (Paranasal Sinuses, Temporal Bones, and Hearing Loss)

Participants

Juergen Lutz MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose
Robert Stahl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Holger Frank Boehm MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Olaf Dietrich, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Martin John Hempel, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Maximilian F. Reiser MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
Lorenz Jaeger MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose
et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

PURPOSE

Many challenges and efforts have been performed in neuroimaging to understand the complex auditory disorder in tinnitus. There is considerably evidence that microstructural neuroplasticity changes due to increased neural activity in parts of the acoustic pathway cause tinnitus. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) was used to investigate micro structural pathways of the acoustic pathway in patients with longstanding tinnitus. Aim of the study was to compare the quantitative DTI indices of patients with tinnitus and controls.

METHOD AND MATERIALS

  12 patients (mean age 38.5 years) and 12 healthy volunteers (mean age 35.3 years) were examined using an 1,5 T MR System (Magnetom AVANTO, Siemens) with T1-weighted sequence (MPRAGE-Sequence, 1.1x1.1x1.1 mm ) and DTI EPI-sequence (TE 71ms, TR 6000ms, 36 slices, 1.8x1.8x3.6 mm spatial distribution). Lateral lemniscus, inferior colliculus, medial geniculate body, auditory radiation, superficial temporal gyrus and transverse temporal gyrus were evaluated. The fractional anisotropy (FA) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were studied.

RESULTS

The ADC values were reduced and FA increased significantly (p<0.05) in the inferior colliculus and the lateral lemniscus in the tinnitus patients in comparison to the controls on the opposite side. However, there were no significant differences in FA and ADC bilateral in the auditory radiation, the superficial temporal gyrus and the transvers temporal gyrus.   

CONCLUSION

Our study provides preliminary data suggesting a possible lateralized involvement of sub cortical structures in tinnitus patients compared to healthy subjects. Tinnitus is accompanied with an increase in anisotropy (FA) mainly in the inferior colliculus. These findings suggest evidence of underlying microstructural detectable changes in parts of the acoustic pathway in patients with tinnitus.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE/APPLICATION

DTI could be used for the deeper understanding of disturbance of complex microstructural changes as well as a possible imaging tool for treatment response and monitoring.   

Cite This Abstract

Lutz, J, Stahl, R, Boehm, H, Dietrich, O, Hempel, M, Reiser, M, Jaeger, L, et al, , Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of the Central Auditory Pathway in Patients with Longstanding Unilateral Tinnitus.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6013221.html