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Diffusion tensor imaging of the human thigh: consideration of DTI-based fiber tracking stop criteria

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Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To consider the tract-based analysis of DTI parameters in human muscle by assessing different fiber tracking stop criteria settings on diffusion parameters.

Materials and methods

30 healthy volunteers underwent a 3 T MRI. Diffusion-weighted images were acquired to perform DTI and fiber tracking analysis for six thigh muscles. Whole thigh muscles were evaluated by fiber tractography using different fiber tracking stop parameters [FA (0.01–0.15) to (0.4–0.99); angle 10°–30°, step size 0.75 mm, 1.5 mm, 3 mm]. Diffusion and tractography-derived parameters per stop criterion were compared using a repeated measure ANOVA including Bonferroni-corrected post hoc tests.

Results

We found significant differences in all examined diffusion parameters between different stop criteria (main effect p < 0.001). We showed different influence of tracking parameters on diffusion parameters in examined muscles (main effect p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

Statistically significant differences in fiber tracking results using different stop criteria were shown. Fiber tracking stop criteria do have an important influence on study results and should be considered in the development of study protocols and comparison of studies. We recommend a FA minimum of 0.10 and a step size lower than voxel size, e.g., a half with a constant ratio between step size and angle of 10°/mm.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Philips Germany for continuous scientific support and specifically Dr. Burkhard Mädler for valuable discussion. JF, LS and MT received funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Project number 122679504 SFB874 (TP-A1 to MT and JF, TP-A5 to LS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Johannes Forsting, Robert Rehmann, Matthias Vorgerd, Martin Tegenthoff & Lara Schlaffke

  2. Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Martijn Froeling

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  1. Johannes Forsting
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  2. Robert Rehmann
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  3. Martijn Froeling
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  4. Matthias Vorgerd
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  6. Lara Schlaffke
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Contributions

JF: Study conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, drafting of manuscript. RR: Acquisition of data, critical revision. MF: Analysis and interpretation of data, critical revision. MV: Critical revision. MT: Study conception and design, critical revision. LS: Study conception and design, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data, critical revision.

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Correspondence to Johannes Forsting.

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Forsting, J., Rehmann, R., Froeling, M. et al. Diffusion tensor imaging of the human thigh: consideration of DTI-based fiber tracking stop criteria. Magn Reson Mater Phy 33, 343–355 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-019-00791-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-019-00791-x

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