EVALUATION OF THE BRAIN PATHWAYS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE TRACTOGRAPHY IN HYPOXIC-ISCHEMIC LESIONS

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of data obtained by magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance tractography using the FreeSurfer TRACULA program to determine quantitative indicators of data on the diffusion of water molecules along the brain pathways in children. The paper presents the results of a brain examination of 29 children (15 boys and 14 girls) aged 1 to 4 years. All children underwent magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance tractography. According to the results of brain ultrasound, 19 children with hypoxic ischemic brain lesions and 10 children without pathological changes were selected, which made up the comparison group. Visual analysis of the results included the identification of pathological changes in the white matter of the brain, the expansion of subarachnoid spaces, the ventricular system of the brain, hemorrhagic changes, and the assessment of the state of maturity of cerebral structures. The degree of myelination of the brain was determined based on the method of determining the maturity of the cerebral structures of a premature newborn. Evaluates the performance of diffusion of corticospinal tracts at the level of semiovale center, the rear legs of the internal capsule, bridge; the corpus callosum at the level of the knee and cushion in the thalami, caudate nuclei and the putamen. The quantitative parameters of the diffusion of FA and ADC were measured on color maps using the selection of regions of interest (ROI-region of interest) using the tools of the FiberTrack software. The size of the ROI corresponded to the size of the anatomical structure. Using the FreeSurfer TRACULA software package, it was found that the index of fractional anisotropy (FA) was lower in patients with hypoxic ischemic lesions in the area of the left posterior leg of the inner capsule, the right thalamus. The values of the measured diffusion coefficient (ADC) in patients with hypoxic ischemic lesions were higher in the area of the posterior legs of the internal capsules and the semioval center on 2 sides.