Research progress of diffusion tensor imaging in evaluation of peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration

After peripheral nerve injury, Wallerian degeneration of the distal axon and myelin sheath occurs. How to evaluate axon regeneration, residual control area repair and nerve function reconstruction has always been a challenge for clinical research. At present, it is clinically mainly through nerve electrophysiological examination to evaluate nerve damage degree, but it lacks sensitivity and specificity in evaluation of complete axonl injury and proximal lesion. Magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can noninvasively and quantitatively assess the process of peripheral nerve degeneration and regeneration. When combining with diffusion tensor tractography (DTT), the directionand arrangement of nerve fiber bundles, which indicating demyelination, can be tracked. In this paper, the research progress of DTI technology in the evaluation of peripheral nerve injury degeneration and regeneration were reviewed. (authors)