Correlation Of FA And ADC Values In Lumbosacral Nerve Roots Compression

Objective: To analyze the correlation of fractional anisotropy?FA?and apparent diffusion coefficient?ADC?of diffusion tensor imaging?DTI?in lumbosacral nerve roots Compression,and assess the value of diffusion tensor i maging?DTI?in diagnosis of lumbosacral nerve roots Compression.Methods: seventy patients with lumbar disc herniation underwent conventional MRI sequence and DTI,obtained L₅ nerve root Lindblon grading?four levels?in T2 WI,and measure FA and ADC values in DTI,then analyzed the correlation of FA and ADC values in Lindblon grading and carried out diffusion tensor tractography?DTT?of bilateral L3-S1 nerve roots.Results:?1?The average FA value of L₅ nerve root on the diseased side were significantly lower than that of the healthy side?t=-4.416,p<0.01?,the average ADC values of L₅ nerve root on the diseased side were higher than that of healthy side?t=3.334,p<0.05?;?2?The difference of average FA and ADC values in nerve roots at all levels was statistically significant?F=50.347,P<0.01;F=53.572,P<0.01?;?3?There was negative correlation between FA value and Lindblon grading?rs=0.970,p<0.01?,and positive correlation between ADC value and Lindblon grading?rs=-0.963,p<0.01?by Spearman rank correlation test.Conclusion:?1?3.0T MRI diffusion tensor imaging and diffusion tensor tractography of the lumbosacral spinal nerve roots is possible;?2?Most paitients,lumbosacral spinal nerve roots could be shown well in 3.0T MRI diffusion tensor tractography;?3?FA and ADC values could reflect the degree of nerve root compression,and with the increase of the degree of compression,FA value decreased,ADC value increased.