Abstract #2100

Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Fresh and Formalin Fixed Porcine Hearts: A Comparison Study of Fiber Tracts

Ria Mazumder¹, Seongjin Choi², Bradley Dean Clymer¹, Richard White²,³, Arunark Kolipaka²,³

¹Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; ²Deparment of Radiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States; ³Deptarment of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a technique used for fiber tracking. It has been rarely explored to track cardiac fibers .Previous studies have used formalin fixed heart for tracking fibers. However, formalin fixation tends to change the diffusion properties of tissues. This study explores the effects formalin fixation has on fiber tracking when compared to fresh hearts. DTI analysis parameter such as fractional anisotropy was further exploited to track the fibers in fresh and formalin fixed hearts. We have observed that formalin fixation makes diffusion pattern of the cardiac muscle fibers more isotropic and thereby lowers the FA value.