Correlation of magnetic resonance imaging optic nerve parameters to optical coherence tomography and the visual field in glaucoma.
BACKGROUND
To determine the viability of using magnetic resonance imaging measurement of optic nerve morphology as an objective analysis of glaucomatous damage.


DESIGN
Retrospective study conducted at Tohoku University Hospital.


PARTICIPANTS
Thirty-eight eyes of 19 patients with open-angle glaucoma.


METHODS
Patients were scanned with T2-weighted and 3-T diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging, and parameters of the optic nerve, including fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficient and cross-sectional area, were determined. Conventional parameters of glaucomatous damage, including circumpapillary and macular retinal nerve fibre layer thickness, and mean deviation and average total deviation of the central 16 test points from the Humphrey Field Analyzer, were then compared with the magnetic resonance imaging-derived parameters. Spearman's coefficient of correlation was calculated to determine the significance of the correlation.


MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Correlation coefficient between the magnetic resonance imaging parameters and the parameters of glaucomatous damage.


RESULTS
Mean deviation was significantly correlated with all magnetic resonance imaging parameters (fractional anisotropy: r = 0.53, apparent diffusion coefficient: r = -0.44, cross-sectional area: r = 0.70). Circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness was significantly correlated with fractional anisotropy (r = 0.60) and cross-sectional area (r = 0.47), but not apparent diffusion coefficient (r = -0.29). Central macular function and macular retinal nerve fibre layer thickness were also significantly correlated with magnetic resonance imaging parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Optic nerve magnetic resonance imaging parameters were significantly correlated to glaucomatous damage. Magnetic resonance imaging analysis of the optic nerve may, thus, have value as an objective instrument to assess glaucomatous degeneration, including the function of the macula.
['Omodaka|Kazuko|K|', 'Murata|Takaki|T|', 'Sato|Shiho|S|', 'Takahashi|Mai|M|', 'Tatewaki|Yasuko|Y|', 'Nagasaka|Tatsuo|T|', 'Doi|Hiroshi|H|', 'Araie|Makoto|M|', 'Takahashi|Shoki|S|', 'Nakazawa|Toru|T|']
D000368:Aged D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging D005260:Female D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle D006801:Humans D007429:Intraocular Pressure D008297:Male D009412:Nerve Fibers D009898:Optic Disk D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells D012189:Retrospective Studies D012607:Scotoma D013223:Statistics as Topic D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence D058609:Visual Field Tests D014794:Visual Fields
glaucoma macular function MRI objective examination