Table 4.

Diffusion metrics

Fractional Anisotropy		Left External capsule	Right External capsule	Left Posterior Internal capsule	Right Posterior Internal capsule	Left Uncinate fasciculus
All	Alc (n=23)	0.404	0.404	0.664	0.663	0.491
	Nalc (n=54)	0.423**	0.422**	0.674	0.676*	0.530*
No-HE	Alc (n=7)	0.399	0.404	0.664	0.663	0.452
	Nalc (n=24)	0.432**	0.430*	0.684*	0.686*	0.542**
HE	Alc (n=16)	0.406	0.404	0.664	0.664	0.508‡
	Nalc (n=26)	0.419*‡	0.418*‡	0.665*‡	0.666‡‡	0.528

Mean Diffusivity		Left External capsule	Right External capsule	Left Longitudinal fasciculus	Right Longitudinal fasciculus	Left Uncinate fasciculus
All	Alc (n=23)	0.813*	0.805*	0.823	0.822	0.803*
	Nalc (n=54)	0.790	0.785	0.791	0.804	0.781
No-HE	Alc (n=7)	0.802	0.800	0.821	0.819	0.810**
	Nalc (n=24)	0.788	0.783	0.794	0.804	0.773
HE	Alc (n=16)	0.818**	0.808*	0.825**	0.823*	0.800
	Nalc (n=26)	0.789	0.785	0.786	0.801	0.782

Spherical Isotropy		Left External capsule	Right External capsule	Left Longitudinal fasciculus	Right Longitudinal fasciculus	Left Uncinate fasciculus
All	Alc (n=23)	0.628**	0.621*	0.527*	0.515	0.538**
	Nalc (n=54)	0.610	0.606	0.498	0.493	0.502
No-HE	Alc (n=7)	0.636**	0.622	0.523	0.504	0.571**
	Nalc (n=24)	0.604	0.599	0.495	0.489	0.495
HE	Alc (n=16)	0.624	0.620*	0.529*	0.520	0.523
	Nalc (n=26)	0.615‡	0.610‡	0.499	0.495	0.503

^*p<0.05

^**p<0.005 Alc vs. Nalc;

^‡p<0.05

^‡‡p<0.005 no-HE vs. HE (for Alc & Nalc separately).

Alc group had lower fractional anisotropy (FA), higher mean diffusivity (MD) and spherical isotropy (CS) in major white matter regions indicating higher interstitial edema compared to Nalc. As with MRS findings, HE status was a predominant factor in the Nalc group alone but not in Alc. EC external capsule; PIC posterior internal capsule; UF uncinate fasciculus; L/R left/right; MD expressed in × 10⁻³ mm²/s