Abstract #3477

Microstructural Variations in Intra-axonal and Extra-axonal Spaces Associated with Punctate White Matter Lesions in Preterm Infants Reveal by White Matter Tract Integrity Metrics

Mengxuan Li¹, Xianjun Li¹, Qinli Sun¹, Miaomiao Wang¹, Congcong Liu¹, Yannan Cheng¹, Xiaocheng Wei², and Jian Yang¹

¹Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China, ²MR Research China, GE Healthcare,Beijing,People's Republic of China, BengJing, China

Punctate white matter lesions (PWML) are common in preterm infants. Extensive microstructural changes were observed previously. However, specific changes related to axons and extra-axonal structures remain to be investigated. White matter tract integrity (WMTI) metrics derived from diffusion kurtosis imaging provide information of intra-axonal or extra-axonal spaces. This study aimed to use these metrics to quantify specific variations associated with PWML. Besides reduced fractional anisotropy and increased radial diffusivity, increased diffusivities in extra-axonal and intra-axonal spaces were found. Furthermore, tortuosity and fiber dispersion decreased obviously. These results suggested that PWML would influence axonal reorganization as well as extra-axonal structural integrity.

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