Diffusion Tensor Imaging Permits Detection of Disjunct MD and FA Changes in the Basal Ganglia in Patients with Susacs Syndrome

Michael Deppe¹, Ilka Kleffner¹, Siawoosh Mohammadi¹, Wolfram Schwindt², Katja Deppe³, Simon S. Keller¹, E. Bernd Ringelstein¹

By employing a highly effective spatial normalization technique for diffusion weighted images we found evidence that DTI is sensitive in detecting damage to white matter that is of normal appearance in Susac's Syndrome using conventional MRI methods. Grey matter (GM) alterations in Susac's syndrome are also detectable by DTI as circumscribed FA and MD increases in the basal ganglia that are also not observed using conventional MRI. The alterations in basal ganglia MD and FA are differentially localized to the pallidum and putamen, respectably.