An integrated diffusion map for the analysis of diffusion properties: a feasibility study in patients with acoustic neuroma.

RATIONALE AND

OBJECTIVES

To develop an integrated diffusion map (iDM) for evaluation of diffusion properties, including the mean diffusivity and diffusion anisotropy concurrently.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The proposed integrated diffusion map consisted of trace and the deviation tensor. It measures the diffusion distributions from a region of interest. Diffusion tensor imaging was acquired from nine healthy volunteers and four patients with acoustic neuroma before and 3 months after the stereotactic radiosurgery. Five regions of interest were selected from healthy subjects and the whole tumor from the patients. The diffusion properties were analyzed in the proposed integrated diffusion map.

RESULTS

In healthy subjects, iDM showed different distributions in regions of interest that can lead to cluster segmentation. In monitoring the treatment response, the number of pixels with meaningful changes in iDM is 12.5% compared to 32.37% in apparent diffusion coefficient and 16.67% in fractional anisotropy. It suggested the effect from radiation therapy might affect the anisotropic diffusion. The interpretation of the diffusion properties, such as changes in mean diffusivity and anisotropy, should be treated in an integrated method.

CONCLUSIONS

The integrated diffusion map can be used to analyze the diffusion properties in a comprehensive manner.