Magnetic Resonance–Based Prediction of Poststroke Motor Recovery

Fractional anisotropy and FA ratio correlated with later functional scores in patients with middle cerebral artery infarction.

Can newer magnetic resonance (MR)-based measurements that reflect the structural integrity of the pyramidal tract predict the extent of functional motor recovery after stroke? To find out, investigators used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of the pyramidal tract in 29 patients between 20 and 185 days after middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. The researchers compared the absolute FA and ADC values of the ipsilateral pyramidal tract, as well as the FA ratio (ipsilateral FA/contralateral FA) and ADC ratio of the pyramidal tract, with Brunnstrom scores of functional motor recovery at 8 months after stroke onset.

Both the ipsilateral FA value and the FA …

Reviewing Author

Barry Kosofsky, MD, PhD

Magnetic Resonance–Based Prediction of Poststroke Motor Recovery

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Reviewing Author