Tatsuji Hasegawa1, Kei Yamada2, Takenori Tozawa3, Tomohiro Chiyonobu3, Sachiko Tokuda3, Akira Nishimura4, Hajime Hosoi3, Masafumi Morimoto5. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: thaseg@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp. 2. Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. 3. Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. 4. Department of Neonatology, Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. 5. Department of Medical Science, School of Nursing, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Cerebellar injury is well established as an important finding in preterm infants with cerebral palsy (CP). In this study, we investigated associations between injury to the cerebellar peduncles and motor impairments in preterm infants using quantitative tractography at term-equivalent age, which represents an early phase before the onset of motor impairments. METHODS: We studied 64 preterm infants who were born at <33 weeks gestational age. These infants were divided into three groups: CP, Non-CP (defined as infants with periventricular leukomalacia but having normal motor function), and a Normal group. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed at term-equivalent age and motor function was assessed no earlier than a corrected age of 2 years. Using tractography, we measured fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the superior cerebellar peduncles (SCP) and middle cerebellar peduncles (MCP), as well as the motor/sensory tracts. RESULTS: The infants in the CP group had significantly lower FA of the SCP and sensory tract than those in the other groups. There was no significant difference in FA and ADC of the motor tract among the three groups. Severity of CP had a significant correlation with FA of the MCP, but not with the FA of other white matter tracts. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the infants with CP had injuries of the ascending tracts (e.g. the SCP and sensory tract), and that additional MCP injury might increase the severity of CP. Quantitative tractography assessment at term-equivalent age may be useful for screening preterm infants for prediction of future motor impairments.
PURPOSE:Cerebellar injury is well established as an important finding in preterm infants with cerebral palsy (CP). In this study, we investigated associations between injury to the cerebellar peduncles and motor impairments in preterm infants using quantitative tractography at term-equivalent age, which represents an early phase before the onset of motor impairments. METHODS: We studied 64 preterm infants who were born at <33 weeks gestational age. These infants were divided into three groups: CP, Non-CP (defined as infants with periventricular leukomalacia but having normal motor function), and a Normal group. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed at term-equivalent age and motor function was assessed no earlier than a corrected age of 2 years. Using tractography, we measured fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the superior cerebellar peduncles (SCP) and middle cerebellar peduncles (MCP), as well as the motor/sensory tracts. RESULTS: The infants in the CP group had significantly lower FA of the SCP and sensory tract than those in the other groups. There was no significant difference in FA and ADC of the motor tract among the three groups. Severity of CP had a significant correlation with FA of the MCP, but not with the FA of other white matter tracts. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that the infants with CP had injuries of the ascending tracts (e.g. the SCP and sensory tract), and that additional MCP injury might increase the severity of CP. Quantitative tractography assessment at term-equivalent age may be useful for screening preterm infants for prediction of future motor impairments.
Authors: Giulia Spoto; Greta Amore; Luigi Vetri; Giuseppe Quatrosi; Anna Cafeo; Eloisa Gitto; Antonio Gennaro Nicotera; Gabriella Di Rosa Journal: Front Syst Neurosci Date: 2021-06-10