tractography
Pronunciation: track-TOG-rah-fee
Neuroimaging technique that uses diffusion tensor imaging to visualize and map white matter fiber pathways in the brain.
Full Definition
Tractography is an advanced neuroimaging method that reconstructs white matter fiber tracts by tracking the direction of water diffusion along axonal bundles using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. This technique enables non-invasive visualization of major fiber pathways such as the corticospinal tract, arcuate fasciculus, and corpus callosum. Tractography has become essential for surgical planning, studying connectivity disorders, and understanding brain network organization in both healthy and diseased states.
Usage
Usage note: Often abbreviated as 'DTI tractography' when specifically referring to diffusion tensor-based methods.
In Context
- "Preoperative tractography identified the corticospinal tract location relative to the tumor." — Neurosurgical planning report
- "Probabilistic tractography revealed altered connectivity in the language network." — Clinical neuroimaging study