PURPOSE: To determine the ability of the principal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices to predict the underlying histopathology evaluated with immunofluorescent assay (IFA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Conventional T2 and 3D multishot-diffusion weighted echoplanar imaging (3D ms-DWEPI) was performed on a fixed, ex vivo @entity1 cervical spinal cord (CSC) from a @entity1 with a history of @entity15 ( @entity15 ). In all, 170 regions of interest (ROIs) were selected within the white matter and categorized as a high intensity lesion (HIL), low intensity lesion (LIL), and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM). The longitudinal diffusivity (  l), radial diffusivity (  r), and fractional anisotropy (FA) were obtained from each ROI. The underlying histopathology was then evaluated using immunofluorescent assay with antibodies directed to myelin and neurofilament staining. RESULTS: The mean values for   l and   r were significantly elevated within HIL relative to NAWM and LIL. IFA analysis of HIL demonstrated significant @entity17 , without significant if any axon loss. The FA values were significantly reduced in HIL and LILs. FA values were also reduced in lesions with increased   l and   r values relative to normal. CONCLUSION: Aberrant   l,   r, and FA relative to normal values are strong indicators of @entity17 . DTI indices are not specific for axon loss. IFA analysis is a reliable method to demonstrate myelin and axon pathology within the ex vivo setting.

Using diffusion tensor imaging and immunofluorescent assay to evaluate the pathology of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['human', 'patient'] @entity17 :: ('MESH:D003711', 'Disease') :: ['demyelination'] @entity15 :: ('MESH:D009103', 'Disease') :: ['MS', 'multiple sclerosis']
@entity15 :: (MESH:D009103,Disease) :: ['multiple sclerosis']
