Feasibility research of visualizing normal and aberrant pyramidal tract by diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography

Objective To explore the feasibility of visualizing normal and aberrant pyramidal tract by diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography.Methods In 62 neurosurgical patients and four normal persons,diffusion tensor images were obtained on a 1.5 T Siemens scanner.Two of four regions-of-interest were selected to trace the pyramidal tract.The four regions include the medulla oblongata,midbrain,and posterior portion of the internal capsule and hand-knob portion of pre-central gyrus.Results The pyramidal tract visualized by tractography accorded with anatomical feature.In forty-seven patients and four normal persons,so-called aberrant pyramidal tract(APT)was visualized.And remarkably abnormal course of the pyramidal tracts was observed in 3 cases.Conclusion Diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography is reliable in visualizing normal and aberrant pyramidal tract.It is necessary to use the all transections of the medulla oblongata on axial plane and midbrain or posterior portion of the internal capsule as regions of interest to trace aberrant pyramidal tract.