| Diffusion Tensor Imaging MRI for Chronic Pain Management |
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Tae Shin Kim, Jung Yul Park |
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Department of Neurosurgery, Korea University Medical Center Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea |
Correspondence:
Jung Yul Park, Tel: 82-2-920-5729, Fax: 82-2-929-0629,
Email: jypark98@korea.ac.kr
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| Abstract |
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Chronic pain syndromes are associated with neural reorganization in specific regions associated with perception, processing, and integration of pain. This is especially true in neuropathic pain. Neuroimaging methods have identified various structures in the brain involved in the processing of pain and its control. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), a magnetic resonance imaging-based method, allows in vivo mapping of the anatomical connections in the human brain. Although this modality is relatively new in pain research filed authors believe that it will provide useful information regarding the connectivity between various pain centers in brain, brainstem and spinal cord with pain processing pathways that may correlate the types, location and severity of pain experienced by patients. Hence, authors tried to search and review the basics of DTI, with its advancement, and clinically applied studies to determine its usefulness in chronic pain management. |
| Key Words:
Chronic pain; Diffusion tensor imaging; Magnetic resonance image. |
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