Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39143201›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2025

Methodological considerations on diffusion MRI tractography in infants aged 0-2 years: a scoping review.

Anouk S Verschuur, Regan King, Chantal M W Tax, Martijn F Boomsma, Gerda van Wezel-Meijler, Alexander Leemans, Lara M Leijser

Abstract readScoping Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Anouk S VerschuurDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital Zwolle, Zwolle, The Netherlands. a.s.verschuur@alumnus.utwente.nl.ORCID 0000-0001-8737-7078
Regan KingDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Critical Care, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.
Chantal M W TaxImage Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Martijn F BoomsmaDepartment of Radiology, Isala Hospital Zwolle, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Gerda van Wezel-MeijlerDepartment of Neonatology, Isala Women and Children's Hospital Zwolle, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
Alexander LeemansImage Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Lara M LeijserDepartment of Pediatrics, Section of Newborn Critical Care, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Diffusion MRI (dMRI) enables studying the complex architectural organization of the brain's white matter (WM) through virtual reconstruction of WM fiber tracts (tractography). Despite the anticipated clinical importance of applying tractography to study structural connectivity and tract development during the critical period of rapid infant brain maturation, detailed descriptions on how to approach tractography in young infants are limited. Over the past two decades, tractography from infant dMRI has mainly been applied in research settings and focused on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Only few studies used techniques superior to DTI in terms of disentangling information on the brain's organizational complexity, including crossing fibers. While more advanced techniques may enhance our understanding of the intricate processes of normal and abnormal brain development and extensive knowledge has been gained from application on adult scans, their applicability in infants has remained underexplored. This may partially be due to the higher technical requirements versus the need to limit scan time in young infants. We review various previously described methodological practices for tractography in the infant brain (0-2 years-of-age) and provide recommendations to optimize advanced tractography approaches to enable more accurate reconstructions of the brain WM's complexity. IMPACT: Diffusion tensor imaging is the technique most frequently used for fiber tracking in the developing infant brain but is limited in capability to disentangle the complex white matter organization. Advanced tractography techniques allow for reconstruction of crossing fiber bundles to better reflect the brain's complex organization. Yet, they pose practical and technical challenges in the fast developing young infant's brain. Methods on how to approach advanced tractography in the young infant's brain have hardly been described. Based on a literature review, recommendations are provided to optimize tractography for the developing infant brain, aiming to advance early diagnosis and neuroprotective strategies.

Indexed as

BrainDiffusion Magnetic Resonance ImagingDiffusion Tensor ImagingWhite MatterChild, PreschoolHumansInfantInfant, Newborn

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.