White Matter Trajectories in Pre- and Postoperative DTI-Examination and Fibertracking for patients with Brain Stem Cavernomas

Objective: The aim of our study was to verify the possibility if to reliably visualize the alterations of white matter trajectories in patients with brain stem cavernous angiomas (CCMs) using diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI)-MRI and fibertracking. Methods: DTI measures the motion of hydrogen atoms within the water molecules in all three dimensions. This method allows direct, non-invasive examination of white matter fiber tracts in vivo and has already a broad range of applications in the clinical neurosciences. Between March 2003 and July 2005 twelve patients (5 males, 7 females, mean age 38.5±5.4, range 18 to 55…