New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review

Aim Structural connectivity analysis using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and tractography has become the method of choice for studying white matter pathology and reorganization in children with congenital hemiplegia. To evaluate its role in the research domain, we systematically review...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Scheck, S., Boyd, Roslyn, Rose, S.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13437
_version_ 1848748347344551936
author Scheck, S.
Boyd, Roslyn
Rose, S.
author_facet Scheck, S.
Boyd, Roslyn
Rose, S.
author_sort Scheck, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Aim Structural connectivity analysis using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and tractography has become the method of choice for studying white matter pathology and reorganization in children with congenital hemiplegia. To evaluate its role in the research domain, we systematically reviewed the literature about children with cerebral palsy (CP) to document common findings and identify strengths and possible limitations of this neuroimaging technology. Method A literature search was performed for peer-reviewed studies pertaining to dMRI and CP. Results Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The corticospinal tract was studied in greatest detail (18/22). The most common finding was decreased fractional anisotropy and/or increased mean diffusivity, indicating significant loss in the integrity of these corticomotor pathways. Fewer studies assessed ascending sensorimotor pathways including the posterior and superior thalamic radiations, which also showed decreased fractional anisotropy. Anisotropy indices (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity) obtained for both corticomotor and sensorimotor tracts were repeatedly shown to correlate with clinical measures. Other tracts studied included commissural and association fibres, which showed conflicting results. Interpretation There is sound evidence that dMRI-based connectivity techniques are useful for improving our understanding of the structure-function relationships of corticomotor and sensorimotor neural networks in CP. © The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology © 2012 Mac Keith Press.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T07:03:36Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-13437
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T07:03:36Z
publishDate 2012
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-134372017-09-13T14:58:12Z New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review Scheck, S. Boyd, Roslyn Rose, S. Aim Structural connectivity analysis using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) and tractography has become the method of choice for studying white matter pathology and reorganization in children with congenital hemiplegia. To evaluate its role in the research domain, we systematically reviewed the literature about children with cerebral palsy (CP) to document common findings and identify strengths and possible limitations of this neuroimaging technology. Method A literature search was performed for peer-reviewed studies pertaining to dMRI and CP. Results Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria. The corticospinal tract was studied in greatest detail (18/22). The most common finding was decreased fractional anisotropy and/or increased mean diffusivity, indicating significant loss in the integrity of these corticomotor pathways. Fewer studies assessed ascending sensorimotor pathways including the posterior and superior thalamic radiations, which also showed decreased fractional anisotropy. Anisotropy indices (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity) obtained for both corticomotor and sensorimotor tracts were repeatedly shown to correlate with clinical measures. Other tracts studied included commissural and association fibres, which showed conflicting results. Interpretation There is sound evidence that dMRI-based connectivity techniques are useful for improving our understanding of the structure-function relationships of corticomotor and sensorimotor neural networks in CP. © The Authors. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology © 2012 Mac Keith Press. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13437 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04332.x unknown
spellingShingle Scheck, S.
Boyd, Roslyn
Rose, S.
New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
title New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
title_full New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
title_fullStr New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
title_full_unstemmed New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
title_short New insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A systematic review
title_sort new insights into the pathology of white matter tracts in cerebral palsy from diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/13437