Federico Bruno
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Francesco Arrigoni
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Silvia Mariani
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Lucia Patriarca
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Pierpaolo Palumbo
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Raffaele Natella
Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Napoli
Liheng Ma
Department of Radiology, GuangDong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Cina
Giuseppe Guglielmi
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia University School of Medicine, Foggia, Italy
Renato J Galzio
Neurosurgery, “San Salvatore” Hospital, L’Aquila
Alessandra Splendiani
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Ernesto Di Cesare
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Carlo Masciocchi
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Antonio Barile
Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
Keywords
peripheral nerve tumours, schwannoma, neurofibroma, diffusion imaging, DTI, tractography
Abstract
Peripheral nerves can be affected by a variety of benign and malignant tumour and tumour-like lesions. Besides clinical evaluation and electrophysiologic studies, MRI is the imaging modality of choice for the assessment of these soft tissue tumours. Conventional MR sequences, however, can fail to assess the histologic features of the lesions. Moreover, the precise topographical relationship between the peripheral nerve and the tumor must be delineated preoperatively for complete tumour resection minimizing nerve damage. Using Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and tractography, it is possible to obtain functional information on tumour and nerve structures, allowing the assess anatomy, function and biological features. In this article, we review the technical aspects and clinical application of DTI for the evaluation of peripheral nerve tumours.
Abstract