Hou Xin1, Li Xianjun2, Gao Jie1, Sun Qinli1, Yu Bolang1, Ed X. Wu3, Wan Mingxi2, Yang Jian1, 2
1Department of radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College of Xian Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shannxi, China; 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shannxi, China; 3Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Signal Processing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
This study aimed to investigate the changes of term and preterm neonates with post-menstrual ages (PMA). 44 healthy neonates with PMA ranging from 33 to 42 weeks were enrolled. Diffusion tensor images were acquired and analyzed by tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). 8 regions of centrum semiovale (CS), corpus callosum (CC), internal capsule (IC), external capsule (EC), optic radiation (OR), and anterior limb of internal capsule (ALIC) were selected. FA values generally increased while AD, RD, and MD values decreased significantly in most regions in term group. ALIC exhibited the lowest diffusion values. Moreover, the slope rates of SCC, CS, OR, EC with PMA were significant higher than those of other regions, indicating their rapid maturation.