Abstract:

Objective    To evaluate the diagnostic value of the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with different b values in patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion. Methods    Thirty-six patients with severe stenosis or occlusions of unilateral middle cerebral artery underwent DTI imaging study with different b values（3100～400s/mm2）on 3.0T MR. ADC and FA values in white matter of affected hemicerebrum were analyzed by comparing with that of the contralateral healthy part. Results    In affected hemicerebrum, ADC values with b values from 33100 to 1000s/mm2 were bigger than that of the healthy(P＜0.05), while FA values with b values from 33100 to 1300s/mm2 were smaller(P＜0.05). There were no significant difference in ADC values (b values from 700 to 400s/mm2) and FA values (b values from 1000 to 400s/mm2) between the two sides(P＞0.05). Conclusion    Abnormal diffusion can be detected by ADC and FA values more sensitively with high b values than conventional b values when the conventional MRI failed in the patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery severe stenosis or occlusion.

Key words: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Diffusion Tensor Imaging; Cerebral Arterial Occlusion