Investigation of lateral geniculate nucleus volume and diffusion tensor imaging in patients with normal tension glaucoma using 7 tesla magnetic resonance imaging

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 7;13(6):e0198830. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198830. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Background: There is evidence that glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease involving the whole visual pathway. We prospectively examined potential benefits of volumetry of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using a new 7T scanner.

Methods: 20 patients with normal tension glaucoma and 16 control individuals were examined. LGN volume and fractional anisotropy (FA) of the optic tract (OT) and the optic radiation (OR) and their correlation with RNFL (retinal nerve fiber layer) thickness were analyzed.

Results: LGN volume was significantly reduced in NTG (60.9 vs 88.3; p < 0.05). FA of the OT (right: 0.35 vs 0.66, left: 0.36 vs 0.67; p < 0.05) and of the OR (right: 0.41 vs 0.70, left: 0.41 vs 0.69; p < 0.05) was also significantly reduced. Nasal RNFL thickness correlated with the volume of the contralateral LGN (r = 0.471, p = 0.05). Temporal RNFL thickness correlated with the volume of the ipsilateral LGN (r = 0.603, p = 0.015).

Conclusion: NTG leads to significant atrophy of the LGN compared to controls. FA of the optic tract and the optic radiation is reduced in NTG as sign of axonal degeneration. RNFL thickness but not FA correlates with LGN volume.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diffusion Tensor Imaging*
  • Female
  • Geniculate Bodies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Low Tension Glaucoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies

Associated data

  • figshare/10.6084/m9.figshare.6197141

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF Erlangen, project J53, MAS). Siemens Healthcare AG provided support in the form of salaries for authors [RH, TK], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.