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Schilling KG, Combes AJE, Ramadass K, Rheault F, Sweeney G, Prock L, Sriram S, Cohen-Adad J, Gore JC, Landman BA, Smith SA, O'Grady KP. Influence of preprocessing, distortion correction and cardiac triggering on the quality of diffusion MR images of spinal cord. Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 108:11-21. [PMID: 38309376 PMCID: PMC11218893 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2024.01.008] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Diffusion MRI of the spinal cord (SC) is susceptible to geometric distortion caused by field inhomogeneities, and prone to misalignment across time series and signal dropout caused by biological motion. Several modifications of image acquisition and image processing techniques have been introduced to overcome these artifacts, but their specific benefits are largely unproven and warrant further investigations. We aim to evaluate two specific aspects of image acquisition and processing that address image quality in diffusion studies of the spinal cord: susceptibility corrections to reduce geometric distortions, and cardiac triggering to minimize motion artifacts. First, we evaluate 4 distortion preprocessing strategies on 7 datasets of the cervical and lumbar SC and find that while distortion correction techniques increase geometric similarity to structural images, they are largely driven by the high-contrast cerebrospinal fluid, and do not consistently improve the geometry within the cord nor improve white-to-gray matter contrast. We recommend at a minimum to perform bulk-motion correction in preprocessing and posit that improvements/adaptations are needed for spinal cord distortion preprocessing algorithms, which are currently optimized and designed for brain imaging. Second, we design experiments to evaluate the impact of removing cardiac triggering. We show that when triggering is foregone, images are qualitatively similar to triggered sequences, do not have increased prevalence of artifacts, and result in similar diffusion tensor indices with similar reproducibility to triggered acquisitions. When triggering is removed, much shorter acquisitions are possible, which are also qualitatively and quantitatively similar to triggered sequences. We suggest that removing cardiac triggering for cervical SC diffusion can be a reasonable option to save time with minimal sacrifice to image quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt G Schilling
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
| | - Anna J E Combes
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Karthik Ramadass
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Francois Rheault
- Medical Imaging and Neuroinformatic (MINi) Lab, Department of Computer Science, University of Sherbrooke, Canada
| | - Grace Sweeney
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Logan Prock
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Subramaniam Sriram
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Julien Cohen-Adad
- NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Mila - Quebec AI Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada; Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - John C Gore
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bennett A Landman
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Computer Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Seth A Smith
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kristin P O'Grady
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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Koch KM, Nencka AS, Kurpad S, Budde MD. Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Spinal Cord Injuries After Instrumented Fusion Stabilization. J Neurotrauma 2024. [PMID: 38251658 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2023.0591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) is a promising technique for assessing spinal cord injury (SCI) that has historically been challenged by the presence of metallic stabilization hardware. This study leverages recent advances in metal-artifact resistant multi-spectral DW-MRI to enable diffusion quantification throughout the spinal cord even after fusion stabilization. Twelve participants with cervical spinal cord injuries treated with fusion stabilization and 49 asymptomatic able-bodied control participants underwent multi-spectral DW-MRI evaluation. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were calculated in axial cord sections. Statistical modeling assessed ADC differences across cohorts and within distinct cord regions of the SCI participants (at, above, or below injured level). Computed models accounted for subject demographics and injury characteristics. ADC was found to be elevated at injured levels compared with non-injured levels (z = 3.2, p = 0.001), with ADC at injured levels decreasing over time since injury (z = -9.2, p < 0.001). Below the injury level, ADC was reduced relative to controls (z = -4.4, p < 0.001), with greater reductions after more severe injuries that correlated with lower extremity motor scores (z = 2.56, p = 0.012). No statistically significant differences in ADC above the level of injury were identified. By enabling diffusion analysis near fusion hardware, the multi-spectral DW-MRI technique allowed intuitive quantification of cord diffusion changes after SCI both at and away from injured levels. This demonstrates the approach's potential for assessing post-surgical spinal cord integrity throughout stabilized regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Koch
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrew S Nencka
- Department of Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Shekar Kurpad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew D Budde
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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Ahmed RU, Medina‐Aguinaga D, Adams S, Knibbe CA, Morgan M, Gibson D, Kim J, Sharma M, Chopra M, Davison S, Sherwood LC, Negahdar M, Bert R, Ugiliweneza B, Hubscher C, Budde MD, Xu J, Boakye M. Predictive values of spinal cord diffusion magnetic resonance imaging to characterize outcomes after contusion injury. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:1647-1661. [PMID: 37501362 PMCID: PMC10502634 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore filtered diffusion-weighted imaging (fDWI), in comparison with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), as a predictor for long-term locomotor and urodynamic (UD) outcomes in Yucatan minipig model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Additionally, electrical conductivity of neural tissue using D-waves above and below the injury was measured to assess correlations between fDWI and D-waves data. METHODS Eleven minipigs with contusion SCI at T8-T10 level underwent MRI at 3T 4 h. post-SCI. Parameters extracted from region of interest analysis included Daxial from fDWI at injury site, fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity from DTI above the injury site along with measures of edema length and cord width at injury site from T2 -weighted images. Locomotor recovery was assessed pre- and weekly post-SCI through porcine thoracic injury behavior scale (PTIBS) and UD were performed pre- and at 12 weeks of SCI. D-waves latency and amplitude differences were recorded before and immediately after SCI. RESULTS Two groups of pigs were found based on the PTIBS at week 12 (p < 0.0001) post-SCI and were labeled "poor" and "good" recovery. D-waves amplitude decreased below injury and increased above injury. UD outcomes pre/post SCI changed significantly. Conventional MRI metrics from T2 -weighted images were significantly correlated with diffusion MRI metrics. Daxial at injury epicenter was diminished by over 50% shortly after SCI, and it differentiated between good and poor locomotor recovery and UD outcomes. INTERPRETATION Similar to small animal studies, fDWI from acute imaging after SCI is a promising predictor for functional outcomes in large animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakib Uddin Ahmed
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Daniel Medina‐Aguinaga
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and NeurobiologyUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Shawns Adams
- Department of NeurosurgeryDuke UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Chase A. Knibbe
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Monique Morgan
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Destiny Gibson
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Joo‐won Kim
- Department of RadiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
- Department of PsychiatryBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Mayur Sharma
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Manpreet Chopra
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Steven Davison
- Comparative Medicine Research UnitUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Leslie C. Sherwood
- Comparative Medicine Research UnitUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - M.J. Negahdar
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Robert Bert
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Beatrice Ugiliweneza
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Charles Hubscher
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and NeurobiologyUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
| | - Matthew D. Budde
- Department of NeurosurgeryMedical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
- Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical CenterMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
| | - Junqian Xu
- Department of RadiologyBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
- Department of PsychiatryBaylor College of MedicineHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Maxwell Boakye
- Department of Neurological Surgery and Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research CenterUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKentuckyUSA
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Qin Y, Li X, Qiao Y, Zou H, Qian Y, Li X, Zhu Y, Huo W, Wang L, Zhang M. DTI-ALPS: An MR biomarker for motor dysfunction in patients with subacute ischemic stroke. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1132393. [PMID: 37065921 PMCID: PMC10102345 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1132393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PurposeBrain glymphatic dysfunction is involved in the pathologic process of acute ischemic stroke (IS). The relationship between brain glymphatic activity and dysfunction in subacute IS has not been fully elucidated. Diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index was used in this study to explore whether glymphatic activity was related to motor dysfunction in subacute IS patients.MethodsTwenty-six subacute IS patients with a single lesion in the left subcortical region and 32 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited in this study. The DTI-ALPS index and DTI metrics (fractional anisotropy, FA, and mean diffusivity, MD) were compared within and between groups. Spearman's and Pearson's partial correlation analyses were performed to analyze the relationships of the DTI-ALPS index with Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) scores and with corticospinal tract (CST) integrity in the IS group, respectively.ResultsSix IS patients and two HCs were excluded. The left DTI-ALPS index of the IS group was significantly lower than that of the HC group (t = −3.02, p = 0.004). In the IS group, a positive correlation between the left DTI-ALPS index and the simple Fugl-Meyer motor function score (ρ = 0.52, p = 0.019) and a significant negative correlation between the left DTI-ALPS index and the FA (R = −0.55, p = 0.023) and MD (R = −0.48, p = 0.032) values of the right CST were found.ConclusionsGlymphatic dysfunction is involved in subacute IS. DTI-ALPS could be a potential magnetic resonance (MR) biomarker of motor dysfunction in subacute IS patients. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of IS and provide a new target for alternative treatments for IS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qin
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanqiang Qiao
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Huili Zou
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Yifan Qian
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaoshi Li
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Yinhu Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenli Huo
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Radiology, Xi'an Daxing Hospital, Xi'an, China
- Lei Wang
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- *Correspondence: Ming Zhang
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Lascu CF, Buhaș CL, Mekeres GM, Bulzan M, Boț RB, Căiță GA, Voiță IB, Pogan MD. Advantages and Limitations in the Evaluation of the Neurological and Functional Deficit in Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries. Clin Pract 2022; 13:14-21. [PMID: 36648842 PMCID: PMC9844280 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract13010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Vertebro-medullary trauma (VMT) causes osteo-articular injuries in a varied anatomical lesion associated with multiple clinical manifestations and therapeutic indications. The neurological evaluation of patients who have suffered a spinal cord injury (SCI) is costly in testing the motor and sensory function. To standardize the assessment, several scales are used that measure the neurological deficit in order to guide subsequent treatment according to complete or incomplete SCI. The aim of this study is to identify and present the relevant tools for assessing SCI. (2) Methods: Relevant SCI studies were used for a fact-finding investigation from a rational and critical perspective of this field of research. The relationship between clinical tools and those with a psychosocial component was assessed based on studies reported in the literature. (3) Results: SCI severity scales have been proposed throughout to be able to estimate the functional prognosis of victims of these traumatic events. These tools can be divided into scales for assessing the neurological deficit due to trauma, and functional scales that assess the ability to perform daily activities, self-care, etc. (4) Conclusions: The closest scale to the need for standardization and the most accurate assessment of neurological deficits secondary to SCI is ASIA/IMSOP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Florentina Lascu
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Camelia Liana Buhaș
- Morphological Disciplines Department, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
- Department of Legal Medicine, County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Oradea, 410169 Oradea, Romania
| | - Gabriel Mihai Mekeres
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Mădălin Bulzan
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Robert Bogdan Boț
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Georgiana Albina Căiță
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Ioan Bogdan Voiță
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology “Prof. Octavian Fodor”, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihaela Dana Pogan
- Department of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
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