Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Direct comparison of DT-MRI and conventional MRT on opposing pages Nerve fibers visualized with great clarity – in vivo and three-dimensionally Concise overview and applications of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Fiber-tracking – how to reconstruct fibers Live pictures on CD Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) is a variation of diffusion-weighed imaging. Particularly in the neurosciences, this technique has gained tremendous momentum in the past decade, both from a technical point of view as well as in its applications. DTI is mainly used in neurological diagnosis and psychiatric and neurologic research, e.g. in order to locate brain tumors and depict their invasivity. DTI offers a unique in-vivo insight into the three-dimensional structure of the human central nervous system. While easy interpretation and evaluation is often hampered by the complexity of both the technique and neuroanatomy, this atlas helps you recognize every one of the important structures rapidly and unambiguously. In the introduction, this atlas provides a concise outline of the evolution of diffusion imaging and describes its potential applications. In the core part of the atlas, the neuroanatomically important structures are clearly labeled both on DTI-derived color maps and conventional MRI. Complex fiber architecture is illustrated schematically and described concisely in textboxes directly on the relevant page. In the final part of the atlas, a straightforward, step-by-step approach for the three-dimensional reconstruction of the most prominent fiber structures is given, and potential pitfalls are indicated. The atlas aims at neuroscientists, neuroanatomists, neurologists, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, physicists, and computer scientists. For advanced users, the atlas may serve as a reference work, while students and scientists are thoroughly introduced into DTI. Table of contents I Introduction: 0 How to Use this Atlas.- 1 Diffusion Imaging: Methods II Atlas: 2 Two-dimensional Brain Slices.- 2.1 Coronal view.- 2.2 Sagittal view.- 2.3 Transversal  view.- 3 Three-dimensional Fiber Tracking.- 3.1 Fiber tracking of the cerebral hemispheres.- 3.1.1 Fiber tracking of the corpus callosum.- 3.1.2 Fiber tracking of the cingulum.- 3.1.3 Fiber tracking of the fornix.- 3.1.4 Fiber tracking of the inferior longitudinal fasciculus.- 3.1.5 Fiber tracking of the inferior fronto-occipital and uncinate fasciculus.- 3.1.6 Fiber tracking of the superior longitudinal, the superior fronto-occipital and the arcuate fasciculus.- 3.1.7 Fiber tracking of the cerebral peduncles.- 3.2 Fiber tracking of the brain stem.- 3.2.1 Fiber tracking of the inferior cerebellar peduncle.- 3.2.3 Fiber tracking of the medial lemniscus and the superior cerebellar peduncle III Appendix: Index: Introduction.- Index: Atlas