Correlation Between the Corticospinal Tract abnormality and Muscle Weakness in Patients with Meningiomas: An Advanced Diffusion MRI Study

Motivation: Meningiomas, despite being benign, can lead to muscle weakness by affecting white matter tracts, yet the mechanisms are not well understood. Goal(s): To investigate corticospinal tract (CST) alterations caused by meningiomas and assess their impact on motor function using advanced diffusion imaging. Approach: Advanced diffusion MRI techniques, DKI and NODDI, were used to analyze CST characteristics in meningioma patients and healthy controls. Metrics were compared to explore the association with motor weakness. Results: Significant CST alterations were observed in patients with motor weakness. DKI_AK was identified as an effective predictor of motor impairment, highlighting the clinical value of advanced MRI metrics. Impact: The study presented advanced diffusion MRI can effectively detect corticospinal tract abnormalities linked to motor weakness in meningioma patients. These findings highlight the potential of imaging metrics to improve diagnosis and management of motor dysfunction, enhancing patient outcomes.