Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Skeletal Muscle – Correlation of Fractional Anisotropy to Muscle Power

Abstract

Purpose: Recent DTI studies demonstrated the possibility of fiber geometry visualization in skeletal muscle. We tested for an association between muscle power and standard DTI parameters, e. g. fractional anisotropy.

Materials and Methods: Maximal muscle power (Lmax) of the soleus muscle was determined in 11 healthy subjects. Subsequently DTI was performed and standard parameters (fractional anisotropy – FA, mean diffusivity – MD, parallel diffusivity – PD, radial diffusivity – RD) were extracted in an ROI of the soleus muscle.

Results: We found a signficant association of Lmax with FA (neg. correlation: r = -0.85, p = 0.0015) and RD (pos. correlation r = 0.80, p = 0.047). There was no signficant association of MD or PD.

Conclusion: Maximum muscle power is an indirect measure of fiber type distribution. The correlation between muscle power and DTI parameters can be explained by differences in fiber diameter and differences in the intracellular microstructure of type-1 and type-2 fibers. DTI should be evaluated as a tool for non-invasive quantification of fiber type distribution in skeletal muscle.

Key Points:

• Fractional anisotropy is negatively correlated with maximum power of a muscle.

• An explanation is the association of fractional anisotropy with muscle fiber distribution.

• DTI might facilitate non-invasive assessment of fiber type distribution in skeletal muscle.

Citation Format:

• Scheel M, Prokscha T, von Roth P et al. Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Skeletal Muscle – Correlation of Fractional Anisotropy to Muscle Power. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2013; 857 – 861

Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Studien der letzten Jahre haben gezeigt, dass mit Diffusions-Tensor Imaging die Fasergeometrie von Skelettmuskeln dargestellt werden kann. Ziel der aktuellen Studie war es zu überprüfen, ob auch zwischen funktioneller Muskelleistung und Standard DTI-Parametern, wie z. B. der Fraktionellen Anisotropie (FA) Korrelationen bestehen.

Material und Methoden: Bei 11 gesunden Probanden wurde zunächst die maximale mechanische Leistung (Lmax) des M. soleus bestimmt. Im Anschluss wurde bei allen Probanden DTI Messungen durchgeführt und die Standard DTI Parameter (Fraktionelle Anisotropie – FA, Mittlere Diffusivität – MD, Parallel Diffusivität – PD, Radiale Diffusivität – RD) über eine ROI Analyse im M. soleus quantifiziert.

Ergebnisse: Es bestand eine signifikante Assoziation zwischen Lmax und FA (negative Korrelation r = -0.85, p = 0.0015) bzw. RD (positive Korrelation r = 0.80, p = 0.047). Kein signifikanter Zusammenhang bestand zu MD oder PD.

Schlussfolgerungen: Die maximale mechanische Muskelleistung ist ein indirekter Parameter für die Muskelfaserzusammensetzung. Die gefundenen Korrelation zwischen Muskelleistung und DTI Parametern können durch Unterschiede im Faserdurchmesser und Unterschiede in der intrazellulären Mikrostruktur von Typ-1 und Typ-2 Fasern erklärt werden. DTI eignet sich möglicherweise als nicht-invasive Methode zur Bestimmung der Muskelfaserzusammensetzung.

Key words

MR-diffusion/perfusion - MR-imaging - diagnostic radiology

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