AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightDTI is a useful tool toreveal WM changes in SC addicts and can be used earlier than conventional MRI.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Background/aim: Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are full agonists of both cannabinoid receptors. Conventional magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) findings of SC users are mainly defined as diffusion restriction and T2/FLAIR hyperintensity. Diffusion tensor imaging(DTI) studies examining SC users have shown contradictory results. The aim of this study was to define white matter (WM) changes ofSC users using DTI.Materials and methods: The study included 22 patients with a history of using SC for 5–37 months, and 22 healthy, age and sexmatched control subjects. A total of 41 diffusion gradient directions were used in the acquisition of diffusion imaging data. Fractionalanisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) values were obtained. ROIs were placed on WM areas of normal appearance.Results: In the SC users, significantly lower FA values were determined in the left temporal lobe (216.2 ± 58.9 vs. 263 ± 27.4; P =0.002) and right hippocampus (224.5 ± 61.5 vs. 255 ± 24.3; P = 0.040). The ADC values of the hippocampus and temporal lobe weresignificantly higher than those of the control group on both the left and right sides.Conclusion: The SC use causes WM microstructural changes, especially in the hippocampus and temporal lobes. DTI is a useful tool toreveal WM changes in SC addicts and can be used earlier than conventional MRI.