Ma Lin MD, PhD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Zhiye Chen BMEDSC, BMEDSC, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lou Xin MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate gray matter volume, white matter volume and FA value changes in ALS patients by voxel-based morphometry and voxel-based diffusion tensor analysis

39 definite or probable ALS patients by E1 Escorial standard and 76 health controls were recruited and underwent a neuropsychological evaluation. The 3D FSPGR T1WI and DTI data were collcected on GE Medical 3.0T MRI system. An ANCOVA was applied with age and total intrcranial volume for VBM and age for VBDTA as covariates because of exactly sex match. A statistical threshold of P < 0.001 (uncorrected) and more than continuous 30 voxels determined significance.

Global results showed that there was no significant difference in the global volumes of gray matter and white matter, total intracranial volumes and gray matter fraction between ALS patients and health controls , but the white matter fraction of ALS patients was significantly less than that of health controls statistically (P = 0.003). Regional results showed there was a significant reduction of gray matter volumes in superior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus bilaterally, right middle frontal gyrus, right middle and inferior temporal gyrus, left superior occipital gyrus and cuneus and left insula in ALS patients when compared with health controls; and the regional reduction of white matter volumes in ALS patients mainly located in genu of corpus callosum, bilateral medial frontal gyrus, paracentral lobule and insula, right superior and middle frontal gyrus and left postcentral gyrus. VBDTA showed a bilateral decrease in FA values in parahipocampal gyrus and cingulate gyrus in ALS patients compared with health controls.

VBM and VBDTA analysis results suggest that ALS is not simply a motor neuron disease but a multisystem disorder; and VBDTA has a potential value for the detection of FA value changes of cingulate and parahippocampal gyral white matter in suspected cognitive impairment for ALS patients.

Combination of VBM and VBDTA can provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology in ALS and may be a auxiliary diagnostic marker.

Lin, M, Chen, Z, Xin, L, Voxel-based Morphometry and Voxel-based Diffusion Tensor Analysis in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8005338.html