Alteration in the number and integrity of white matter tracts in the preterm: A quantitative diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion fibre tractography in children

Abstract Purpose: Periventricular white matter is most commonly injured in preterm babies with hypoxia. To assess white matter damage, we decided to perform diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in preterm children with history of hypoxia and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) (PTH). We hypothesized that the PTH have reduced number of white matter fibres compared to age matched pre term children without hypoxia (PTHO), and also depending on the severity of PVL, there could be reduction in the number of fibres as well. Materials and Methods: The present study was carried out at the Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. DTI was performed on 15 PTH and 15 PTHO. We measured number of fibres and fractional anisotropy of corpus callosum (CC) and optic radiations (OR). Results: There was significant difference between two groups with regard OR ( P < 0.001).The mean number of OR fibres in cases and control was 104 ± 28.44 (mean ± SD) and 578 ± 286 (mean ± SD), respectively.The mean number of CC in cases was 953 ± 429 and in controls was 1625 ± 116 with a P value