The value of MR diffusion tensor imaging on diagnosis and prognosise evaluation in patients with disorders of consciousness

Objective To investigate the clinical application value and the changing regularity of several metrics of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in consciousness disorder patients(DOC). Methods The patient who were diagnosed with DOC(VS group was 66, MCS group was 9) were recruited at The Bayi Brain Hospital affiliated to Beijing PLA Hospital from Jun. 2014 to Dec. 2015 to examined with DTI. The evaluating metrics data of brainstem, subcortical thalamus related regions of interesting (ROI) were collected respectively. The data of ROI between the two groups were compared, then correlated the mean FA and MD value with the clinical CRS-R in ROI. Results The FA of the VS group was significantly lower than that at MCS group (P<0.05). The MD of the VS group was significantly higher than that at MCS group (P<0.05). The mean FA and MD value of ROI correlated with clinical CRS-R score well, expecially in thalamus. Conclusins DTI has certain clinical significance on imaging grading DOC. The degree of consciousness disorder greater, the MD is higher and the FA is lower. Key words: Diffusion tensor imaging; disorders of consciousness; Vegetative state; Minimally conscious state; Prognosis evaluation