Abstract
Purpose: Recent developments in advanced diffusion imaging techniques are expected to improve our knowledge regarding epilepsy. Here we investigated neurite density and dispersion in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE) using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI).
Methods: We recruited 14 patients with IGE and 16 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. With diffusion images at two b-values (1000 and 2000 s/mm2), NODDI calculated the intracellular volume fraction (ICVF) and orientation dispersion index (ODI) in each subject. These images were spatially normalized with each subject's T1-weighted image and subjected to a whole-brain group comparison. Statistical Parametric Mapping 12 software (SPM12) was used for the normalization and statistical analysis. We also examined fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) by performing a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis.
Results: Although there wer e no significant between-group differences in ICVF, gray matter volumes, and FA/MD, we found a weak significance of reduced ODI in the mediobasal frontal areas of the IGE group.
Discussion: We speculate that our exploratory application of NODDI may provide initial insights about neurites abnormality in IGE. The slightly deceased regional ODI appears to be consistent with thalamo-frontal dysfunction in IGE. Otherwise, there might be no abnormality in the neurites of individuals with IGE, but further investigation with more samples and/or cognitive assessment is needed.
