Longitudinal quantification and visualization of intracerebral haemorrhage using multimodal magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate a set of approaches using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography whereby pathology-affected white matter (WM) fibres in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) can be selectively visualized.

Methods: Using structural neuroimaging and DTI volumes acquired longitudinally from three representative patients with ICH, the spatial configuration of ICH-related trauma is delineated and the WM fibre bundles intersecting each ICH lesion are identified and visualized. Both the extent of ICH lesions as well as the proportion of WM fibres intersecting the ICH pathology are quantified and compared across subjects.

Results: This method successfully demonstrates longitudinal volumetric differences in ICH lesion load and differences across time in the percentage of fibres which intersect the primary injury.

Conclusions: Because neurological conditions such as intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) frequently exhibit pathology-related effects which lead to the exertion of mechanical pressure upon surrounding tissues and, thereby, to the deformation and/or displacement of WM fibres, DTI fibre tractography is highly suitable for assessing longitudinal changes in WM fibre integrity and mechanical displacement.

• Diffusion tensor imaging
• intracerebral haemorrhage
• longitudinal study
• magnetic resonance imaging

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the dedicated staff of the Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics at the University of Southern California.

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, grants 2U54EB005149-06 ‘National Alliance for Medical Image Computing: Traumatic Brain Injury–Driving Biological Project’ to J.D.V.H. and R41NS081792-01 ‘Multimodality Image Based Assessment System for Traumatic Brain Injury’, sub-award to J.D.V.H. and by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, grant P01NS058489 to P.M.V. The authors report no conflicts of interest.