Diffusion tensor imaging in a child with hypertrophic olivary degeneration

Avner Meoded, Andrea Poretti, A. Turan Ilica, Randall Perez, George Jallo, Peter C. Burger, Thierry A.G.M. Huisman, Izlem Izbudak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hypertrophic olivary degeneration (HOD) is caused by disruptive lesions affecting components of the Guillain-Mollaret triangle (GMT). We present conventional magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) findings in a 6-year-old girl with HOD after surgery for a midbrain pilocytic astrocytoma. To our knowledge, this is the first dedicated DTI analysis of GMT in a child with HOD in the literature. In our patient, we found higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity values of the inferior olivary nucleus (ION) and lower FA, but higher radial diffusivity (RD) values of all other GMT components compared to age-matched controls. Increased FA values of the ION may be explained by increased packing of white matter fibers. However, associated hyperintense T2 signal is contradictory and the association between increased FA values and hyperintense T2 signal remains unclear. Low FA and high RD values of the other GMTcomponents likely reflect demyelination with axonal degeneration and correlate well with histopathological findings.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)469-474
Number of pages6
JournalCerebellum
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2013

Keywords

  • Diffusion tensor imaging
  • Guillain-Mollaret triangle
  • Hypertrophic olivary degeneration
  • Magnetic resonance imaging

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology

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