Line scan diffusion tensor MRI of the cervical spinal cord in preterm infants

Line scan diffusion tensor magenetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) of the cerv ical spinal cord was demonstrated In vivo for unsedated preterm (gestationa l age 24-30 weeks at birth), very low birthweight (birthweight 620-1300 g) Infants at postmenstrual ages from 29-40 weeks. Scalar Invariant measures o f diffusion [apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and relative anisotropy ( RA)] determined from a cervical cord region of Interest in each case are re ported, characterizing the maturational status of the normal third trimeste r and newborn spinal cord. Mean ADC of 11 infants was 1.2 +/- 0.1 mum(2)/ms ec and the mean RA was 24.3 +/- 4.9%. Normal infant cord neural fiber tract morphology was visualized using a mapping of the predominant diffusion ten sor eigenvector. Potential clinical applications of line scan DT-MRI of the spinal cord of preterm and term newborns for assessment of spinal cord inj ury are discussed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;13:949-953. (C) 2001 Wiley- Liss, Inc.