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Abstract #0136

Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Analysis of Diffusion Tensor Data in Very Preterm 7 year-olds

Claire E Kelly 1 , Deanne K Thompson 1,2 , Alexander Leemans 3 , Chris Adamson 1 , Jian Chen 1 , Terrie E Inder 4 , Jeanie LY Cheong 1,5 , Lex W Doyle 1,5 , and Peter J Anderson 1,6

1 Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 2 Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 3 Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, 4 Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States, 5 Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, 6 Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Very preterm birth (VPT, <32 weeks gestation) increases the risk of white matter injury. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) provides a method for studying whole brain white matter microstructure in VPT children. This study analysed diffusion tensor data from 150 VPT children and 35 term controls (born ≥37 weeks gestation) at 7 years of age. There were regions of higher diffusivity in the VPT children compared with controls. Increasing brain abnormality scored on neonatal MRI was associated with widespread lower fractional anisotropy and higher diffusivity in VPT children. TBSS provides a sensitive method for studying white matter microstructure in VPT children.

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