Whole-Brain Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Correlation to Visual-Evoked Potentials in Multiple Sclerosis: A Tract-Based Spatial Statistics Analysis

Correlations among FA, RD, AD, and mVEP. Shown are the tract-based spatial statistics results of the correlation analysis and the MS lesion distribution. Significant correlations are shown in red to yellow, from P = .05 to P = .0055. The MS lesion maps (a summation of all patients) are presented in violet to turquoise. Violet indicates an area where only 1 patient had a lesion, while turquoise indicates an area where up to 17 patients had a lesion. The background image is the T1 image of the Montreal Neurological Institute 158 brain. First line (FA): correlation of FA and mVEP. Second line (AD): correlation of AD and mVEP. Third line (RD): correlation of RD and mVEP. Correlations with FA and RD are present in widespread areas, while there are fewer correlations with AD. Highly significant correlations can be identified in the optic radiations among mVEP, FA, and RD, while no correlation could be found between mVEP and AD. Conversely, there are highly significant correlations between mVEP and all measured parameters of DTI within the fornix. T2 lesions are predominantly found along the ventricles. The parieto-occipital region is the location where most patients had lesions.