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Stefanie M, Antonia G, Leah Shyela V, Sabine H, Peter D, Jens F, Daniel B, Christian B, Veit R, Mathias B, Jan L, Ilko L M. T1 mapping in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis with and without decompressive surgery: A longitudinal study. J Neuroimaging 2024; 34:329-338. [PMID: 38403747 DOI: 10.1111/jon.13195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cervical spinal canal stenosis (cSCS) is a common cause of spinal impairment in the elderly. With conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suffering from various limitations, high-resolution single-shot T1 mapping has been proposed as a novel MRI technique in cSCS diagnosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of conservative and surgical treatment on spinal cord T1 relaxation times in cSCS. METHODS T1-mapping was performed in 54 patients with cSCS at 3 Tesla MRI at the maximum-, above and below the stenosis. Subsequently, intraindividual T1-differences (ΔT1) intrastenosis were calculated. Twenty-four patients received follow-up scans after 6 months. RESULTS Surgically treated patients showed higher ΔT1 at baseline (154.9 ± 81.6 vs. 95.3 ± 60.7), while absolute T1-values within the stenosis were comparable between groups (863.7 ± 89.3 milliseconds vs. 855.1 ± 62.2 milliseconds). In surgically treated patients, ΔT1 decreased inverse to stenosis severity. After 6 months, ΔT1 significantly decreased in the surgical group (154.9 ± 81.6 milliseconds to 85.7 ± 108.9 milliseconds, p = .021) and remained unchanged in conservatively treated patients. Both groups showed clinical improvement at the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Baseline difference of T1 relaxation time (ΔT1) might serve as a supporting marker for treatment decision and change of T1 relaxation time might reflect relief of spinal cord narrowing indicating regenerative processes. Quantitative T1-mapping represents a promising additional imaging method to indicate a surgical treatment plan and to validate treatment success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meyer Stefanie
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Geiger Antonia
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Volnhals Leah Shyela
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hofer Sabine
- Biomedical NMR, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dechent Peter
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frahm Jens
- Biomedical NMR, Max-Planck-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Behme Daniel
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Magdeburg, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Brelie Christian
- Department of Neurosurgery, Johanniter-Clinics Bonn, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Rohde Veit
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Bähr Mathias
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Liman Jan
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Paracelsus Medical School, Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Maier Ilko L
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Tur C, Battiston M, Yiannakas MC, Collorone S, Calvi A, Prados F, Kanber B, Grussu F, Ricciardi A, Pajak P, Martinelli D, Schneider T, Ciccarelli O, Samson RS, Wheeler-Kingshott CAG. What contributes to disability in progressive MS? A brain and cervical cord-matched quantitative MRI study. Mult Scler 2024; 30:516-534. [PMID: 38372019 DOI: 10.1177/13524585241229969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We assessed the ability of a brain-and-cord-matched quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) protocol to differentiate patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) from controls, in terms of normal-appearing (NA) tissue abnormalities, and explain disability. METHODS A total of 27 patients and 16 controls were assessed on the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), 25-foot timed walk (TWT), 9-hole peg (9HPT) and symbol digit modalities (SDMT) tests. All underwent 3T brain and (C2-C3) cord structural imaging and qMRI (relaxometry, quantitative magnetisation transfer, multi-shell diffusion-weighted imaging), using a fast brain-and-cord-matched protocol with brain-and-cord-unified imaging readouts. Lesion and NA-tissue volumes and qMRI metrics reflecting demyelination and axonal loss were obtained. Random forest analyses identified the most relevant volumetric/qMRI measures to clinical outcomes. Confounder-adjusted linear regression estimated the actual MRI-clinical associations. RESULTS Several qMRI/volumetric differences between patients and controls were observed (p < 0.01). Higher NA-deep grey matter quantitative-T1 (EDSS: beta = 7.96, p = 0.006; 9HPT: beta = -0.09, p = 0.004), higher NA-white matter orientation dispersion index (TWT: beta = -3.21, p = 0.005; SDMT: beta = -847.10, p < 0.001), lower whole-cord bound pool fraction (9HPT: beta = 0.79, p = 0.001) and higher NA-cortical grey matter quantitative-T1 (SDMT = -94.31, p < 0.001) emerged as particularly relevant predictors of greater disability. CONCLUSION Fast brain-and-cord-matched qMRI protocols are feasible and identify demyelination - combined with other mechanisms - as key for disability accumulation in PMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Tur
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of Catalonia (Cemcat). Vall d'Hebron Institute of Research. Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marco Battiston
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marios C Yiannakas
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sara Collorone
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alberto Calvi
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Fundació de Recerca Clínic Barcelona-Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Prados
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
- eHealth Center, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Baris Kanber
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Grussu
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Radiomics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Ricciardi
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Patrizia Pajak
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniele Martinelli
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Olga Ciccarelli
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- NIHR UCLH Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claudia Am Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, UCL (University College London) Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Brain Connectivity Research Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
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Boonsuth R, Battiston M, Grussu F, Samlidou CM, Calvi A, Samson RS, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Yiannakas MC. Feasibility of in vivo multi-parametric quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the healthy sciatic nerve with a unified signal readout protocol. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6565. [PMID: 37085693 PMCID: PMC10121559 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33618-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) has been used successfully over the years to investigate the peripheral nervous system (PNS) because it allows early detection and precise localisation of neural tissue damage. However, studies demonstrating the feasibility of combining MRN with multi-parametric quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) methods, which provide more specific information related to nerve tissue composition and microstructural organisation, can be invaluable. The translation of emerging qMRI methods previously validated in the central nervous system to the PNS offers real potential to characterise in patients in vivo the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms involved in a plethora of conditions of the PNS. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of combining MRN with qMRI to measure diffusion, magnetisation transfer and relaxation properties of the healthy sciatic nerve in vivo using a unified signal readout protocol. The reproducibility of the multi-parametric qMRI protocol as well as normative qMRI measures in the healthy sciatic nerve are reported. The findings presented herein pave the way to the practical implementation of joint MRN-qMRI in future studies of pathological conditions affecting the PNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratthaporn Boonsuth
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
| | - Marco Battiston
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Grussu
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Christina Maria Samlidou
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alberto Calvi
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Laboratory of Advanced Imaging in Neuroimmunological Diseases, Center of Neuroimmunology, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Fundació Clinic Per a La Recerca Biomedica, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
- Brain Connectivity Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marios C Yiannakas
- NMR Research Unit, Department of Neuroinflammation, Faculty of Brain Sciences, Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
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Liu Y, Ye Z, Hu J, Xiao Z, Zhang F, Yang X, Chen W, Fu Y, Cao D. White Matter Alterations in Spastic Paraplegia Type 5: A Multiparametric Structural MRI Study and Correlations with Biochemical Measurements. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2022; 43:56-62. [PMID: 34794945 PMCID: PMC8757563 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In spastic paraplegia type 5, spinal cord atrophy and white matter signal abnormalities in the brain are the main MR imaging alterations. However, the specific mechanism remains unclear. We explored the microstructural changes occurring in spastic paraplegia type 5 and assessed the relation between MR imaging and clinical data. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventeen patients with spastic paraplegia type 5 and 17 healthy controls were scanned with DTI and T1 mapping on a 3T MR imaging scanner. Fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and T1 values were obtained using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics and the Spinal Cord Toolbox. Neurofilament light and myelin basic protein in the CSF were measured. The differences in MR imaging and biochemical data between patients with spastic paraplegia type 5 and healthy controls were compared using the Student t test. RESULTS A widespread reduction of fractional anisotropy values and an elevation of mean diffusivity, T1, and radial diffusivity values were found in most cervical, T4, and T5 spinal cords; corona radiata; optic radiations; and internal capsules in spastic paraplegia type 5. A variation in axial diffusivity values was shown only in C2, C6, and the corona radiata but not in the gray matter. The levels of neurofilament light and myelin basic protein were higher in those with spastic paraplegia type 5 than in healthy controls (myelin basic protein, 3507 [SD, 2291] versus 127 [SD, 219] pg/mL; neurofilament light, 617 [SD, 207] versus 265 [SD, 187] pg/mL; P < .001). No correlation was found between the clinical data and MR imaging-derived measures. CONCLUSIONS Multiparametric MR imaging and biochemical indicators demonstrated that demyelination (mainly) and axonal loss led to the white matter integrity loss without gray matter injury in spastic paraplegia type 5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. Liu
- From the Departments of Radiology (Y.L., J.H., F.Z., X.Y., D.C.),Department of Medical Imaging Technology (Y.L.), College of Medical Technology and Engineering
| | - Z. Ye
- Neurology and Institute of Neurology (Z.Y., W.C., Y.F.),Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology (Z.Y., W.C., Y.F.)
| | - J. Hu
- From the Departments of Radiology (Y.L., J.H., F.Z., X.Y., D.C.)
| | - Z. Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (Z.X.), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - F. Zhang
- From the Departments of Radiology (Y.L., J.H., F.Z., X.Y., D.C.)
| | - X. Yang
- From the Departments of Radiology (Y.L., J.H., F.Z., X.Y., D.C.)
| | - W. Chen
- Neurology and Institute of Neurology (Z.Y., W.C., Y.F.),Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology (Z.Y., W.C., Y.F.),Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology (W.C.), Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Y. Fu
- Neurology and Institute of Neurology (Z.Y., W.C., Y.F.),Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology (Z.Y., W.C., Y.F.)
| | - D. Cao
- From the Departments of Radiology (Y.L., J.H., F.Z., X.Y., D.C.),Key Laboratory of Radiation Biology of Fujian Higher Education Institutions (D.C.), First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
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Forodighasemabadi A, Rasoanandrianina H, El Mendili MM, Guye M, Callot V. An optimized MP2RAGE sequence for studying both brain and cervical spinal cord in a single acquisition at 3T. Magn Reson Imaging 2021; 84:18-26. [PMID: 34517015 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echo (MP2RAGE) is a T1 mapping technique that has been used broadly on brain and recently on cervical spinal cord (cSC). The growing interest for combined investigation of brain and SC in numerous pathologies of the central nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and traumatic injuries, now brings about the need for optimization with regards to this specific investigation. This implies large spatial coverage with high spatial resolution and short acquisition time, high CNR and low B1+ sensitivity, as well as high reproducibility and robust post-processing tools for T1 quantification in different regions of brain and SC. In this work, a dedicated protocol (referred to as Pr-BSC) has been optimized for simultaneous brain and cSC T1 MP2RAGE acquisition at 3T. After computer simulation optimization, the protocol was applied for in vivo validation experiments and compared to previously published state of the art protocols focusing on either the brain (Pr-B) or the cSC (Pr-SC). Reproducibility and in-ROI standard deviations were assessed on healthy volunteers in the perspective of future clinical use. The mean T1 values, obtained by the Pr-BSC, in brain white, gray and deep gray matters were: (mean ± in-ROI SD) 792 ± 27 ms, 1339 ± 139 ms and 1136 ± 88 ms, respectively. In cSC, T1 values for white matter corticospinal, posterior sensory, lateral sensory and rubro/reticulospinal tracts were 902 ± 41 ms, 920 ± 35 ms, 903 ± 46 ms, 891 ± 41 ms, respectively, and 954 ± 32 ms for anterior and intermediate gray matter. The Pr-BSC protocol showed excellent agreement with previously proposed Pr-B on brain and Pr-SC on cSC, with very high inter-scan reproducibility (coefficients of variation of 0.52 ± 0.36% and 1.12 ± 0.62% on brain and cSC, respectively). This optimized protocol covering both brain and cSC with a sub-millimetric isotropic spatial resolution in one acquisition of less than 8 min, opens up great perspectives for clinical applications focusing on degenerative tissue such as encountered in MS and ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Forodighasemabadi
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France; APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Univ, Université Gustave Eiffel, LBA, Marseille, France; iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille-Montreal, France, Canada
| | - Henitsoa Rasoanandrianina
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France; APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille Univ, Université Gustave Eiffel, LBA, Marseille, France; iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille-Montreal, France, Canada
| | - Mohamed Mounir El Mendili
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France; APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Maxime Guye
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France; APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Virginie Callot
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France; APHM, Hopital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France; iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille-Montreal, France, Canada.
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6
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Baucher G, Rasoanandrianina H, Levy S, Pini L, Troude L, Roche PH, Callot V. T1 Mapping for Microstructural Assessment of the Cervical Spinal Cord in the Evaluation of Patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2021; 42:1348-1357. [PMID: 33985954 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a7157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although current radiologic evaluation of degenerative cervical myelopathy by conventional MR imaging accurately demonstrates spondylosis or degenerative disc disease causing spinal cord dysfunction, conventional MR imaging still fails to provide satisfactory anatomic and clinical correlations. In this context, we assessed the potential value of quantitative cervical spinal cord T1 mapping regarding the evaluation of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients diagnosed with mild and moderate-to-severe degenerative cervical myelopathy and 10 healthy subjects were enrolled in a multiparametric MR imaging protocol. Cervical spinal cord T1 mapping was performed with the MP2RAGE sequence procedure. Retrieved data were processed and analyzed regarding the global spinal cord and white and anterior gray matter on the basis of the clinical severity and the spinal canal stenosis grading. RESULTS Noncompressed levels in healthy controls demonstrated significantly lower T1 values than noncompressed, mild, moderate, and severe stenotic levels in patients. Concerning the entire spinal cord T1 mapping, patients with moderate-to-severe degenerative cervical myelopathy had higher T1 values compared with healthy controls. Regarding the specific levels, patients with moderate-to-severe degenerative cervical myelopathy demonstrated a T1 value increase at C1, C7, and the level of maximal compression compared with healthy controls. Patients with mild degenerative cervical myelopathy had lower T1 values than those with moderate-to-severe degenerative cervical myelopathy at the level of maximal compression. Analyses of white and anterior gray matter confirmed similar results. Strong negative correlations between individual modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores and T1 values were also observed. CONCLUSIONS In this preliminary study, 3D-MP2RAGE T1 mapping demonstrated increased T1 values in the pathology tissue samples, with diffuse medullary alterations in all patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy, especially relevant at C1 (nonstenotic level) and at the maximal compression level. Encouraging correlations observed with the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association score make this novel approach a potential quantitative biomarker related to clinical severity in degenerative cervical myelopathy. Nevertheless, patients with mild degenerative cervical myelopathy demonstrated nonsignificant results compared with healthy controls and should now be studied in multicenter studies with larger patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Baucher
- From the Neurochirurgie adulte (G.B., L.T., P.-H.R.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Nord, Marseille, France
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (G.B., H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory (G.B., H.R., S.L., P.-H.R., V.C.), Marseille-Montreal, France-Canada
| | - H Rasoanandrianina
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (G.B., H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Aix-Marseille Université, Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory (G.B., H.R., S.L., P.-H.R., V.C.), Marseille-Montreal, France-Canada
| | - S Levy
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (G.B., H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Aix-Marseille Université, Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory (G.B., H.R., S.L., P.-H.R., V.C.), Marseille-Montreal, France-Canada
| | - L Pini
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (G.B., H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Aix-Marseille Université, Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
| | - L Troude
- From the Neurochirurgie adulte (G.B., L.T., P.-H.R.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Nord, Marseille, France
| | - P-H Roche
- From the Neurochirurgie adulte (G.B., L.T., P.-H.R.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Nord, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory (G.B., H.R., S.L., P.-H.R., V.C.), Marseille-Montreal, France-Canada
| | - V Callot
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (G.B., H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, Marseille, France
- Center for Magnetic Resonance in Biology and Medicine (H.R., L.P., S.L., V.C.), Aix-Marseille Université, Center National de la Recherche Scientifique, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory (G.B., H.R., S.L., P.-H.R., V.C.), Marseille-Montreal, France-Canada
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Imaging of the Spinal Cord in Multiple Sclerosis: Past, Present, Future. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110857. [PMID: 33202821 PMCID: PMC7696997 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord imaging in multiple sclerosis (MS) plays a significant role in diagnosing and tracking disease progression. The spinal cord is one of four key areas of the central nervous system where documenting the dissemination in space in the McDonald criteria for diagnosing MS. Spinal cord lesion load and the severity of cord atrophy are believed to be more relevant to disability than white matter lesions in the brain in different phenotypes of MS. Axonal loss contributes to spinal cord atrophy in MS and its degree correlates with disease severity and prognosis. Therefore, measures of axonal loss are often reliable biomarkers for monitoring disease progression. With recent technical advances, more and more qualitative and quantitative MRI techniques have been investigated in an attempt to provide objective and reliable diagnostic and monitoring biomarkers in MS. In this article, we discuss the role of spinal cord imaging in the diagnosis and prognosis of MS and, additionally, we review various techniques that may improve our understanding of the disease.
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Maier IL, Hofer S, Eggert E, Schregel K, Psychogios MN, Frahm J, Bähr M, Liman J. T1 Mapping Quantifies Spinal Cord Compression in Patients With Various Degrees of Cervical Spinal Canal Stenosis. Front Neurol 2020; 11:574604. [PMID: 33193022 PMCID: PMC7662110 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.574604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related degeneration of the cervical spinal column is the most common cause of spinal cord lesions. T1 mapping has been shown to indicate the grade and site of spinal cord compression in low grade spinal canal stenosis (SCS). Aim of our study was to further investigate the diagnostic potential of a novel T1 mapping method at 0.75 mm resolution and 4 s acquisition time in 31 patients with various grades of degenerative cervical SCS. T1 mapping was performed in axial sections of the stenosis as well as above and below. Included subjects received standard T2-weighted MRI of the cervical spine (including SCS-grading 0-III), electrophysiological, and clinical examination. We found that patients with cervical SCS showed a significant difference in T1 relaxation times within the stenosis (727 ± 66 ms, mean ± standard deviation) in comparison to non-stenotic segments above (854 ± 104 ms, p < 0.001) and below (893 ± 137 ms, p < 0.001). There was no difference in mean T1 in non-stenotic segments in patients (p = 0.232) or between segments in controls (p = 0.272). Mean difference of the T1 relaxation times was significantly higher in grade III stenosis (234 ± 45) vs. in grade II stenosis (176 ± 45, p = 0.037) vs. in grade I stenosis (90 ± 87 ms, p = 0.010). A higher difference in T1 relaxation time was associated with a central efferent conduction deficit. In conclusion, T1 mapping may be useful as a tool for SCS quantification in all grades of SCS, including high-grade stenosis with myelopathy signal in conventional T2-weighted imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilko L Maier
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sabine Hofer
- Biomedizinische NMR, Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Eggert
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Schregel
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Jens Frahm
- Biomedizinische NMR, Max-Planck-Institut für Biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mathias Bähr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan Liman
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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9
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Spinal cord atrophy in a primary progressive multiple sclerosis trial: Improved sample size using GBSI. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 28:102418. [PMID: 32961403 PMCID: PMC7509079 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The GBSI provided clinically meaningful measurements of spinal cord atrophy, with low sample size. Deriving spinal cord atrophy from brain MRI using the GBSI is easier than spinal cord MRI. Spinal cord atrophy on GBSI could be used as a secondary outcome measure.
Background We aimed to evaluate the implications for clinical trial design of the generalised boundary-shift integral (GBSI) for spinal cord atrophy measurement. Methods We included 220 primary-progressive multiple sclerosis patients from a phase 2 clinical trial, with baseline and week-48 3DT1-weighted MRI of the brain and spinal cord (1 × 1 × 1 mm3), acquired separately. We obtained segmentation-based cross-sectional spinal cord area (CSA) at C1-2 (from both brain and spinal cord MRI) and C2-5 levels (from spinal cord MRI) using DeepSeg, and, then, we computed corresponding GBSI. Results Depending on the spinal cord segment, we included 67.4–98.1% patients for CSA measurements, and 66.9–84.2% for GBSI. Spinal cord atrophy measurements obtained with GBSI had lower measurement variability, than corresponding CSA. Looking at the image noise floor, the lowest median standard deviation of the MRI signal within the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord was found on brain MRI at the C1-2 level. Spinal cord atrophy derived from brain MRI was related to the corresponding measures from dedicated spinal cord MRI, more strongly for GBSI than CSA. Spinal cord atrophy measurements using GBSI, but not CSA, were associated with upper and lower limb motor progression. Discussion Notwithstanding the reduced measurement variability, the clinical correlates, and the possibility of using brain acquisitions, spinal cord atrophy using GBSI should remain a secondary outcome measure in MS studies, until further advancements increase the quality of acquisition and reliability of processing.
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10
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Grussu F, Battiston M, Veraart J, Schneider T, Cohen-Adad J, Shepherd TM, Alexander DC, Fieremans E, Novikov DS, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM. Multi-parametric quantitative in vivo spinal cord MRI with unified signal readout and image denoising. Neuroimage 2020; 217:116884. [PMID: 32360689 PMCID: PMC7378937 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-parametric quantitative MRI (qMRI) of the spinal cord is a promising non-invasive tool to probe early microstructural damage in neurological disorders. It is usually performed in vivo by combining acquisitions with multiple signal readouts, which exhibit different thermal noise levels, geometrical distortions and susceptibility to physiological noise. This ultimately hinders joint multi-contrast modelling and makes the geometric correspondence of parametric maps challenging. We propose an approach to overcome these limitations, by implementing state-of-the-art microstructural MRI of the spinal cord with a unified signal readout in vivo (i.e. with matched spatial encoding parameters across a range of imaging contrasts). We base our acquisition on single-shot echo planar imaging with reduced field-of-view, and obtain data from two different vendors (vendor 1: Philips Achieva; vendor 2: Siemens Prisma). Importantly, the unified acquisition allows us to compare signal and noise across contrasts, thus enabling overall quality enhancement via multi-contrast image denoising methods. As a proof-of-concept, here we provide a demonstration with one such method, known as Marchenko-Pastur (MP) Principal Component Analysis (PCA) denoising. MP-PCA is a singular value (SV) decomposition truncation approach that relies on redundant acquisitions, i.e. such that the number of measurements is large compared to the number of components that are maintained in the truncated SV decomposition. Here we used in vivo and synthetic data to test whether a unified readout enables more efficient MP-PCA denoising of less redundant acquisitions, since these can be denoised jointly with more redundant ones. We demonstrate that a unified readout provides robust multi-parametric maps, including diffusion and kurtosis tensors from diffusion MRI, myelin metrics from two-pool magnetisation transfer, and T1 and T2 from relaxometry. Moreover, we show that MP-PCA improves the quality of our multi-contrast acquisitions, since it reduces the coefficient of variation (i.e. variability) by up to 17% for mean kurtosis, 8% for bound pool fraction (myelin-sensitive), and 13% for T1, while enabling more efficient denoising of modalities limited in redundancy (e.g. relaxometry). In conclusion, multi-parametric spinal cord qMRI with unified readout is feasible and provides robust microstructural metrics with matched resolution and distortions, whose quality benefits from multi-contrast denoising methods such as MP-PCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Grussu
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Marco Battiston
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jelle Veraart
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | | | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Canada; Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Timothy M Shepherd
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Els Fieremans
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Dmitry S Novikov
- Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Brain MRI 3T Research Centre, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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11
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Anterior fissure, central canal, posterior septum and more: New insights into the cervical spinal cord gray and white matter regional organization using T1 mapping at 7T. Neuroimage 2020; 205:116275. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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12
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Rasoanandrianina H, Massire A, Taso M, Guye M, Ranjeva JP, Kober T, Callot V. Regional T 1 mapping of the whole cervical spinal cord using an optimized MP2RAGE sequence. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 32:e4142. [PMID: 31393649 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The recently-proposed MP2RAGE sequence was purposely optimized for cervical spinal cord imaging at 3T. Sequence parameters were chosen to optimize gray/white matter T1 contrast with sub-millimetric resolution and scan-time < 10 min while preserving reliable T1 determination with minimal B1+ variation effects within a range of values compatible with pathologies and surrounding structures. Results showed good agreements with IR-based measurements, high MP2RAGE-based T1 reproducibility and preliminary evidences of age- and tract-related T1 variations in the healthy spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henitsoa Rasoanandrianina
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille University, IFSTTAR, LBA UMR_T24, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille, France-, Montreal, Canada
| | - Aurélien Massire
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille, France-, Montreal, Canada
| | - Manuel Taso
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille, France-, Montreal, Canada
- Division of MRI Research, Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center & Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maxime Guye
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Ranjeva
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille, France-, Montreal, Canada
| | - Tobias Kober
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology, Siemens Healthcare, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Signal Processing Laboratory (LTS 5), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Virginie Callot
- Aix-Marseille University, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France
- APHM, Hôpital Universitaire Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- iLab-Spine International Associated Laboratory, Marseille, France-, Montreal, Canada
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13
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Schilling KG, By S, Feiler HR, Box BA, O'Grady KP, Witt A, Landman BA, Smith SA. Diffusion MRI microstructural models in the cervical spinal cord - Application, normative values, and correlations with histological analysis. Neuroimage 2019; 201:116026. [PMID: 31326569 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-compartment tissue modeling using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging has proven valuable in the brain, offering novel indices sensitive to the tissue microstructural environment in vivo on clinical MRI scanners. However, application, characterization, and validation of these models in the spinal cord remain relatively under-studied. In this study, we apply a diffusion "signal" model (diffusion tensor imaging, DTI) and two commonly implemented "microstructural" models (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, NODDI; spherical mean technique, SMT) in the human cervical spinal cord of twenty-one healthy controls. We first provide normative values of DTI, SMT, and NODDI indices in a number of white matter ascending and descending pathways, as well as various gray matter regions. We then aim to validate the sensitivity and specificity of these diffusion-derived contrasts by relating these measures to indices of the tissue microenvironment provided by a histological template. We find that DTI indices are sensitive to a number of microstructural features, but lack specificity. The microstructural models also show sensitivity to a number of microstructure features; however, they do not capture the specific microstructural features explicitly modelled. Although often regarded as a simple extension of the brain in the central nervous system, it may be necessary to re-envision, or specifically adapt, diffusion microstructural models for application to the human spinal cord with clinically feasible acquisitions - specifically, adjusting, adapting, and re-validating the modeling as it relates to both theory (i.e. relevant biology, assumptions, and signal regimes) and parameter estimation (for example challenges of acquisition, artifacts, and processing).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt G Schilling
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Samantha By
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Haley R Feiler
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bailey A Box
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kristin P O'Grady
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Atlee Witt
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bennett A Landman
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Seth A Smith
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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14
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Maier IL, Hofer S, Joseph AA, Merboldt KD, Eggert E, Behme D, Schregel K, von der Brelie C, Rohde V, Koch J, Psychogios MN, Frahm J, Liman J, Bähr M. Quantification of spinal cord compression using T1 mapping in patients with cervical spinal canal stenosis - Preliminary experience. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 21:101639. [PMID: 30553763 PMCID: PMC6411921 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.101639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Degenerative changes of the cervical spinal column are the most common cause of spinal cord lesions in the elderly. Conventional clinical, electrophysiological and radiological diagnostics of spinal cord compression are often inconsistent. Materials and methods The feasibility and diagnostic potential of a novel T1 mapping method at 0.5 mm resolution and 4 s acquisition time was evaluated in 14 patients with degenerative cervical spinal canal stenosis (SCS) and 6 healthy controls. T1 mapping was performed in axial sections of the stenosis as well as above and below. All subjects received standard T2-weighted MRI of the cervical spine (including SCS-grading 0-III), electrophysiological and clinical examinations. Results Patients revealed significantly decreased T1 relaxation times of the compressed spinal cord within the SCS (912 ± 53 ms, mean ± standard deviation) in comparison to unaffected segments above (1027 ± 39 ms, p < .001) and below (1056 ± 93 ms, p < .001). There was no difference in mean T1 in unaffected segments in patients (p = .712) or between segments in controls (p = .443). Moreover, T1 values were significantly lower in grade II (881 ± 46 ms, p = .005) than in grade I SCS (954 ± 29 ms). Patients with central conduction deficit tended to have lower T1 values within the SCS than patients without (909 ± 50 ms vs 968 ± 7 ms, p = .069). Conclusion Rapid high-resolution T1 mapping is a robust MRI method for quantifying spinal cord compression in patients with cervical SCS. It promises additional diagnostic insights and warrants more extended patient studies. Rapid T1 mapping at 0.5 mm resolution was tested in cervical spinal canal stenosis (SCS). T1 relaxation times significantly decreased within the SCS. T1 relaxation times were significantly lower in grade II vs grade I SCS. Central conduction deficits were inversely correlated with T1 relaxation time. Rapid T1 mapping robustly and accurately quantifies spinal cord compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilko L Maier
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Sabine Hofer
- Biomedizinische NMR, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Arun A Joseph
- Biomedizinische NMR, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen, Germany
| | - K Dietmar Merboldt
- Biomedizinische NMR, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Eggert
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Daniel Behme
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Schregel
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Veit Rohde
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Jens Frahm
- Biomedizinische NMR, Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jan Liman
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mathias Bähr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
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15
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Cohen-Adad J. Microstructural imaging in the spinal cord and validation strategies. Neuroimage 2018; 182:169-183. [PMID: 29635029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo histology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a newly emerging research field that aims to non-invasively characterize tissue microstructure. The implications of in vivo histology are many, from discovering novel biomarkers to studying human development, to providing tools for disease diagnosis and monitoring the effects of novel treatments on tissue. This review focuses on quantitative MRI (qMRI) techniques that are used to map spinal cord microstructure. Opening with a rationale for non-invasive imaging of the spinal cord, this article continues with a brief overview of the existing MRI techniques for axon and myelin imaging, followed by the specific challenges and potential solutions for acquiring and processing such data. The final part of this review focuses on histological validation, with suggested tissue preparation, acquisition and processing protocols for large-scale microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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16
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Battiston M, Grussu F, Ianus A, Schneider T, Prados F, Fairney J, Ourselin S, Alexander DC, Cercignani M, Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott CAM, Samson RS. An optimized framework for quantitative magnetization transfer imaging of the cervical spinal cord in vivo. Magn Reson Med 2017; 79:2576-2588. [PMID: 28921614 PMCID: PMC5836910 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop a framework to fully characterize quantitative magnetization transfer indices in the human cervical cord in vivo within a clinically feasible time. METHODS A dedicated spinal cord imaging protocol for quantitative magnetization transfer was developed using a reduced field-of-view approach with echo planar imaging (EPI) readout. Sequence parameters were optimized based in the Cramer-Rao-lower bound. Quantitative model parameters (i.e., bound pool fraction, free and bound pool transverse relaxation times [ T2F, T2B], and forward exchange rate [kFB ]) were estimated implementing a numerical model capable of dealing with the novelties of the sequence adopted. The framework was tested on five healthy subjects. RESULTS Cramer-Rao-lower bound minimization produces optimal sampling schemes without requiring the establishment of a steady-state MT effect. The proposed framework allows quantitative voxel-wise estimation of model parameters at the resolution typically used for spinal cord imaging (i.e. 0.75 × 0.75 × 5 mm3 ), with a protocol duration of ∼35 min. Quantitative magnetization transfer parametric maps agree with literature values. Whole-cord mean values are: bound pool fraction = 0.11(±0.01), T2F = 46.5(±1.6) ms, T2B = 11.0(±0.2) µs, and kFB = 1.95(±0.06) Hz. Protocol optimization has a beneficial effect on reproducibility, especially for T2B and kFB . CONCLUSION The framework developed enables robust characterization of spinal cord microstructure in vivo using qMT. Magn Reson Med 79:2576-2588, 2018. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Battiston
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francesco Grussu
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andrada Ianus
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Ferran Prados
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Translational Imaging Group, Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James Fairney
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,UCL Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sebastien Ourselin
- Translational Imaging Group, Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mara Cercignani
- CISC, Department of Neuroscience, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Brighton, Sussex, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia A M Gandini Wheeler-Kingshott
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.,Brain MRI 3T Mondino Research Center, C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Pavia, Italy
| | - Rebecca S Samson
- Queen Square MS Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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