Auditory neural pathway evaluation on sensorineural hearing loss using diffusion tensor imaging

Abstract

Di¡usion tensor imagingis a newinvivo toolnot only for the assessment ofwhitematter structural integritybut also for diagnosis and assessment of disease conditions which disturb tissue structural coherence. In this study, we investigated the integrity of auditory pathway in patients of sensorineural hearing loss bymeans of fractional anisotropy of water di¡usion to see any subtle changes of auditory pathways resulting from sensorineural hearing loss. In addition, this study suggests that the di¡usion anisotropy measured by di¡usion tensor imaging is highly sensitive to otherwise subtle disease processes not normally seen with conventional magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography contrast. NeuroReport15:1699^1703 c 2004 LippincottWilliams &Wilkins. Key words: Auditory pathway; Di¡usion tensor imaging; Sensorineural hearing loss;Whitematter