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Hooijmans MT, Schlaffke L, Bolsterlee B, Schlaeger S, Marty B, Mazzoli V. Compositional and Functional MRI of Skeletal Muscle: A Review. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 60:860-877. [PMID: 37929681 PMCID: PMC11070452 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29091] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to its exceptional sensitivity to soft tissues, MRI has been extensively utilized to assess anatomical muscle parameters such as muscle volume and cross-sectional area. Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (qMRI) adds to the capabilities of MRI, by providing information on muscle composition such as fat content, water content, microstructure, hypertrophy, atrophy, as well as muscle architecture. In addition to compositional changes, qMRI can also be used to assess function for example by measuring muscle quality or through characterization of muscle deformation during passive lengthening/shortening and active contractions. The overall aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of qMRI techniques that can quantitatively evaluate muscle structure and composition, provide insights into the underlying biological basis of the qMRI signal, and illustrate how qMRI biomarkers of muscle health relate to function in healthy and diseased/injured muscles. While some applications still require systematic clinical validation, qMRI is now established as a comprehensive technique, that can be used to characterize a wide variety of structural and compositional changes in healthy and diseased skeletal muscle. Taken together, multiparametric muscle MRI holds great potential in the diagnosis and monitoring of muscle conditions in research and clinical applications. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 5 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa T Hooijmans
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lara Schlaffke
- Department of Neurology BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Bart Bolsterlee
- Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Mechanical, Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sarah Schlaeger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Radiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benjamin Marty
- Institute of Myology, Neuromuscular Investigation Center, NMR Laboratory, Paris, France
| | - Valentina Mazzoli
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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2
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Jerban S, Shaterian Mohammadi H, Athertya JS, Afsahi AM, Shojaeiadib N, Moazamian D, Ward SR, Woods G, Chung CB, Du J, Chang EY. Significant age-related differences between lower leg muscles of older and younger female subjects detected by ultrashort echo time magnetization transfer modeling. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024:e5237. [PMID: 39155273 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
Magnetization transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to estimate the fraction of water and macromolecular proton pools in tissues. MT modeling paired with ultrashort echo time acquisition (UTE-MT modeling) has been proposed to improve the evaluation of the myotendinous junction and fibrosis in muscle tissues, which the latter increases with aging. This study aimed to determine if the UTE-MT modeling technique is sensitive to age-related changes in the skeletal muscles of the lower leg. Institutional review board approval was obtained, and all recruited subjects provided written informed consent. The legs of 31 healthy younger (28.1 ± 6.1 years old, BMI = 22.3 ± 3.5) and 20 older (74.7 ± 5.5 years old, BMI = 26.7 ± 5.9) female subjects were imaged using UTE sequences on a 3 T MRI scanner. MT ratio (MTR), macromolecular fraction (MMF), macromolecular T2 (T2-MM), and water T2 (T2-W) were calculated using UTE-MT modeling for the anterior tibialis (ATM), posterior tibialis (PTM), soleus (SM), and combined lateral muscles. Results were compared between groups using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Three independent observers selected regions of interest (ROIs) and processed UTE-MRI images separately, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated for a reproducibility study. Significantly lower mean MTR and MMF values were present in the older compared with the younger group in all studied lower leg muscles. T2-MM showed significantly lower values in the older group only for PTM and SM muscles. In contrast, T2-W showed significantly higher values in the older group. The age-related differences were more pronounced for MMF (-17 to -19%) and T2-W (+20 to 47%) measurements in all muscle groups compared with other investigated MR measures. ICCs were higher than 0.93, indicating excellent consistency between the ROI selection and MRI measurements of independent readers. As demonstrated by significant differences between younger and older groups, this research emphasizes the potential of UTE-MT MRI techniques in evaluating age-related skeletal muscle changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Jerban
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Jiyo S Athertya
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Dina Moazamian
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Samuel R Ward
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gina Woods
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Christine B Chung
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Jiang Du
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Eric Y Chang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
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3
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Aringhieri G, Astrea G, Marfisi D, Fanni SC, Marinella G, Pasquariello R, Ricci G, Sansone F, Sperti M, Tonacci A, Torri F, Matà S, Siciliano G, Neri E, Santorelli FM, Conte R. Convolutional Neural Network-Based Automated Segmentation of Skeletal Muscle and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue on Thigh MRI in Muscular Dystrophy Patients. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2024; 9:123. [PMID: 39051284 PMCID: PMC11270263 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk9030123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
We aim to develop a deep learning-based algorithm for automated segmentation of thigh muscles and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from T1-weighted muscle MRIs from patients affected by muscular dystrophies (MDs). From March 2019 to February 2022, adult and pediatric patients affected by MDs were enrolled from Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy (Institution 1) and the IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Calambrone-Pisa, Italy (Institution 2), respectively. All patients underwent a bilateral thighs MRI including an axial T1 weighted in- and out-of-phase (dual-echo). Both muscles and SAT were manually and separately segmented on out-of-phase image sets by a radiologist with 6 years of experience in musculoskeletal imaging. A U-Net1 and U-Net3 were built to automatically segment the SAT, all the thigh muscles together and the three muscular compartments separately. The dataset was randomly split into the on train, validation, and test set. The segmentation performance was assessed through the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). The final cohort included 23 patients. The estimated DSC for U-Net1 was 96.8%, 95.3%, and 95.6% on train, validation, and test set, respectively, while the estimated accuracy for U-Net3 was 94.1%, 92.9%, and 93.9%. Both of the U-Nets achieved a median DSC of 0.95 for SAT segmentation. The U-Net1 and the U-Net3 achieved an optimal agreement with manual segmentation for the automatic segmentation. The so-developed neural networks have the potential to automatically segment thigh muscles and SAT in patients affected by MDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Aringhieri
- Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, Academic Radiology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (E.N.)
| | - Guja Astrea
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (G.M.); (R.P.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Daniela Marfisi
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (D.M.); (F.S.); (A.T.); (R.C.)
| | - Salvatore Claudio Fanni
- Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, Academic Radiology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (E.N.)
| | - Gemma Marinella
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (G.M.); (R.P.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Rosa Pasquariello
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (G.M.); (R.P.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Giulia Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.R.); (F.T.); (G.S.)
| | - Francesco Sansone
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (D.M.); (F.S.); (A.T.); (R.C.)
| | - Martina Sperti
- Department of Neurology, Careggi University Hospital, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Tonacci
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (D.M.); (F.S.); (A.T.); (R.C.)
| | - Francesca Torri
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.R.); (F.T.); (G.S.)
| | - Sabrina Matà
- SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi, 50134 Florence, Italy;
| | - Gabriele Siciliano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.R.); (F.T.); (G.S.)
| | - Emanuele Neri
- Department of Translational Research and New Technology in Medicine and Surgery, Academic Radiology, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (E.N.)
| | - Filippo Maria Santorelli
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, 56128 Pisa, Italy; (G.A.); (G.M.); (R.P.); (F.M.S.)
| | - Raffaele Conte
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy (IFC-CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (D.M.); (F.S.); (A.T.); (R.C.)
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4
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Fisher ND, Solasz S, Martel D, Chang G, Egol KA. Quadriceps muscle quality and quantity following tibial plateau fracture repair. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY & TRAUMATOLOGY : ORTHOPEDIE TRAUMATOLOGIE 2024:10.1007/s00590-024-04002-9. [PMID: 38922405 DOI: 10.1007/s00590-024-04002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the qualitative and quantitative changes seen in quadriceps muscles [QM] following tibial plateau fracture and surgery. METHODS A consecutive series of patients with an isolated tibial plateau fracture presenting to a single academic center were enrolled and prospectively followed. Bilateral knee MRIs were performed preoperatively and 3 and 12 months postoperatively to assess quantity and quality of the quadriceps muscles. All patients underwent tibial plateau operative repair and were made non-weight-bearing for 10 weeks postoperatively then advanced to weight-bearing as tolerated. Functional status assessed via the short musculoskeletal functional assessment (SMFA); knee range of motion [ROM]; vastus medialis oblique [VMO] and vastus lateralis [VL] muscle quantity (axial width, cross sectional area [CSA] and volume) on injured and contralateral limb; VMO, sartorius, semi-membranous and biceps femoris [BF] muscle quality (fat and water content, and proton density fat fraction). All muscle quantitative and qualitative measurements were compared across all time points. RESULTS Ten patients were included in the final analysis, 6 males and 4 females, with average age of 43.62 ± 16.3 years. While the VMO and VL axial width and CSA were significantly decreased at 3 months preoperatively, this was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between any QM quantitative measurements at any time points. There was no difference in fat content, water content or PDFF at any time point for the VMO, sartorius, semi-membranous and BF muscles. Regression analysis also showed no association between 12-month SMFA scores and knee ROM with VMO/VL CSA at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS QM quantity and quality do not significantly change at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively following tibial plateau fracture surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic Level II.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina D Fisher
- NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 301 E 17th St Suite 1402, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Sara Solasz
- NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 301 E 17th St Suite 1402, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Dimitri Martel
- NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 301 E 17th St Suite 1402, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Gregory Chang
- NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 301 E 17th St Suite 1402, New York, NY, 10003, USA
| | - Kenneth A Egol
- NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, 301 E 17th St Suite 1402, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
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5
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McDonald C, Camino E, Escandon R, Finkel RS, Fischer R, Flanigan K, Furlong P, Juhasz R, Martin AS, Villa C, Sweeney HL. Draft Guidance for Industry Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Becker Muscular Dystrophy, and Related Dystrophinopathies - Developing Potential Treatments for the Entire Spectrum of Disease. J Neuromuscul Dis 2024; 11:499-523. [PMID: 38363616 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230219] [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: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and related dystrophinopathies are neuromuscular conditions with great unmet medical needs that require the development of effective medical treatments. Objective To aid sponsors in clinical development of drugs and therapeutic biological products for treating DMD across the disease spectrum by integrating advancements, patient registries, natural history studies, and more into a comprehensive guidance. Methods This guidance emerged from collaboration between the FDA, the Duchenne community, and industry stakeholders. It entailed a structured approach, involving multiple committees and boards. From its inception in 2014, the guidance underwent revisions incorporating insights from gene therapy studies, cardiac function research, and innovative clinical trial designs. Results The guidance provides a deeper understanding of DMD and its variants, focusing on patient engagement, diagnostic criteria, natural history, biomarkers, and clinical trials. It underscores patient-focused drug development, the significance of dystrophin as a biomarker, and the pivotal role of magnetic resonance imaging in assessing disease progression. Additionally, the guidance addresses cardiomyopathy's prominence in DMD and the burgeoning field of gene therapy. Conclusions The updated guidance offers a comprehensive understanding of DMD, emphasizing patient-centric approaches, innovative trial designs, and the importance of biomarkers. The focus on cardiomyopathy and gene therapy signifies the evolving realm of DMD research. It acts as a crucial roadmap for sponsors, potentially leading to improved treatments for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric Camino
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rafael Escandon
- DGBI Consulting, LLC, Bainbridge Island, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Ryan Fischer
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kevin Flanigan
- Center for Experimental Neurotherapeutics, Department of Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Pat Furlong
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rose Juhasz
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ann S Martin
- Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chet Villa
- Trinity Health Michigan, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - H Lee Sweeney
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center within the UC Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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6
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Alawneh I, Stosic A, Gonorazky H. Muscle MRI patterns for limb girdle muscle dystrophies: systematic review. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11722-1. [PMID: 37129643 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11722-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Limb girdle muscle dystrophies (LGMDs) are a group of inherited neuromuscular disorders comprising more than 20 genes. There have been increasing efforts to characterize this group with Muscle MRI. However, due to the complexity and similarities, the interpretation of the MRI patterns is usually done by experts in the field. Here, we proposed a step-by-step image interpretation of Muscle MRI in LGDM by evaluating the variability of muscle pattern involvement reported in the literature. A systematic review with an open start date to November 2022 was conducted to describe all LGMDs' muscle MRI patterns. Eighty-eight studies were included in the final review. Data were found to describe muscle MRI patterns for 15 out of 17 LGMDs types. Although the diagnosis of LGMDs is challenging despite the advanced genetic testing and other diagnostic modalities, muscle MRI is shown to help in the diagnosis of LGMDs. To further increase the yield for muscle MRI in the neuromuscular field, larger cohorts of patients need to be conducted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issa Alawneh
- Department of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ana Stosic
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hernan Gonorazky
- Department of Neurology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
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7
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Jerban S, Ma Y, Tang Q, Fu E, Szeverenyi N, Jang H, Chung CB, Du J, Chang EY. Robust Assessment of Macromolecular Fraction (MMF) in Muscle with Differing Fat Fraction Using Ultrashort Echo Time (UTE) Magnetization Transfer Modeling with Measured T1. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:876. [PMID: 36900019 PMCID: PMC10001337 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13050876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely regarded as the most comprehensive imaging modality to assess skeletal muscle quality and quantity. Magnetization transfer (MT) imaging can be used to estimate the fraction of water and macromolecular proton pools, with the latter including the myofibrillar proteins and collagen, which are related to the muscle quality and its ability to generate force. MT modeling combined with ultrashort echo time (UTE-MT modeling) may improve the evaluation of the myotendinous junction and regions with fibrotic tissues in the skeletal muscles, which possess short T2 values and higher bound-water concentration. The fat present in muscle has always been a source of concern in macromolecular fraction (MMF) calculation. This study aimed to investigate the impact of fat fraction (FF) on the estimated MMF in bovine skeletal muscle phantoms embedded in pure fat. MMF was calculated for several regions of interest (ROIs) with differing FFs using UTE-MT modeling with and without T1 measurement and B1 correction. Calculated MMF using measured T1 showed a robust trend, particularly with a negligible error (<3%) for FF < 20%. Around 5% MMF reduction occurred for FF > 30%. However, MMF estimation using a constant T1 was robust only for regions with FF < 10%. The MTR and T1 values were also robust for only FF < 10%. This study highlights the potential of the UTE-MT modeling with accurate T1 measurement for robust muscle assessment while remaining insensitive to fat infiltration up to moderate levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeed Jerban
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yajun Ma
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Qingbo Tang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Eddie Fu
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Nikolaus Szeverenyi
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Hyungseok Jang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Christine B. Chung
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Jiang Du
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Eric Y. Chang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
- Radiology Service, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
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8
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Schlaeger S, Weidlich D, Zoffl A, Becherucci EA, Kottmaier E, Montagnese F, Deschauer M, Schoser B, Zimmer C, Baum T, Karampinos DC, Kirschke JS. Beyond mean value analysis - a voxel-based analysis of the quantitative MR biomarker water T 2 in the presence of fatty infiltration in skeletal muscle tissue of patients with neuromuscular diseases. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 35:e4805. [PMID: 35892264 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The main pathologies in the muscles of patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMD) are fatty infiltration and edema. Recently, quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for determination of the MR biomarkers proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and water T2 (T2w ) has been advanced. Biophysical effects or pathology can have different effects on MR biomarkers. Thus, for heterogeneously affected muscles, the routinely performed mean or median value analyses of MR biomarkers are questionable. Our work presents a voxel-based histogram analysis of PDFF and T2w images to point out potential quantification errors. In 12 patients with NMD, chemical-shift encoding-based water-fat imaging for PDFF and T2 mapping with spectral adiabatic inversion recovery (SPAIR) for T2w determination was performed. Segmentation of nine thigh muscles was performed bilaterally (n = 216). PDFF and T2 maps were coregistered. A voxel-based comparison of PDFF and T2w showed a decreased T2w with increasing PDFF. Mean T2w and mean T2w without fatty voxels (PDFF < 10%) show good agreement, whereas standard deviation (σ) T2w and σ T2w without fatty voxels show increasing difference with increasing values of σ. Thereby two subgroups can be observed, referring to muscles in which the exclusion of fatty voxels has a negligible influence versus muscles in which a strong dependency of the T2w value distribution on the exclusion of fatty voxels is present. Because of the two opposite effects that influence T2w in a voxel, namely, (i) a pathophysiologically increased water mobility leading to T2w elevation, and (ii) a dependency of T2w on the PDFF leading to decreased T2w , the T2w distribution within a muscle might be heterogenous and the routine mean or median analysis can lead to a misinterpretation of the muscle health. It was concluded that muscle T2w mean values can wrongly suggest healthy muscle tissue. A deeper analysis of the underlying value distribution is necessary. Therefore, a quantitative analysis of T2w histograms is a potential alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Schlaeger
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dominik Weidlich
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Agnes Zoffl
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Edoardo Aitala Becherucci
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kottmaier
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Federica Montagnese
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marcus Deschauer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Schoser
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institute, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claus Zimmer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Baum
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dimitrios C Karampinos
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan S Kirschke
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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9
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Forsting J, Rohm M, Froeling M, Güttsches AK, Südkamp N, Roos A, Vorgerd M, Schlaffke L, Rehmann R. Quantitative muscle MRI captures early muscle degeneration in calpainopathy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19676. [PMID: 36385624 PMCID: PMC9669006 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23972-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To evaluate differences in qMRI parameters of muscle diffusion tensor imaging (mDTI), fat-fraction (FF) and water T2 time in leg muscles of calpainopathy patients (LGMD R1/D4) compared to healthy controls, to correlate those findings to clinical parameters and to evaluate if qMRI parameters show muscle degeneration in not-yet fatty infiltrated muscles. We evaluated eight thigh and seven calf muscles of 19 calpainopathy patients and 19 healthy matched controls. MRI scans were performed on a 3T MRI including a mDTI, T2 mapping and mDixonquant sequence. Clinical assessment was done with manual muscle testing, patient questionnaires (ACTIVLIM, NSS) as well as gait analysis. Average FF was significantly different in all muscles compared to controls (p < 0.001). In muscles with less than 8% FF a significant increase of FA (p < 0.005) and decrease of RD (p < 0.004) was found in high-risk muscles of calpainopathy patients. Water T2 times were increased within the low- and intermediate-risk muscles (p ≤ 0.045) but not in high-risk muscles (p = 0.062). Clinical assessments correlated significantly with qMRI values: QMFM vs. FF: r = - 0.881, p < 0.001; QMFM versus FA: r = - 0.747, p < 0.001; QMFM versus MD: r = 0.942, p < 0.001. A good correlation of FF and diffusion metrics to clinical assessments was found. Diffusion metrics and T2 values are promising candidates to serve as sensitive early and non-invasive methods to capture early muscle degeneration in non-fat-infiltrated muscles in calpainopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Forsting
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
| | - Marlena Rohm
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
- Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martijn Froeling
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Katrin Güttsches
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
- Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nicolina Südkamp
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
- Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Andreas Roos
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
- Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Hospital Essen, Duisburg-Essen University, Essen, Germany
| | - Matthias Vorgerd
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
- Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Lara Schlaffke
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany
- Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany
| | - Robert Rehmann
- Department of Neurology, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.
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Rebecca JW, Alison MB, Ryan JW, Claudia RS, Donovan JL, Ann TH, Kirsten LZ, Sean CF, William DR, Dah-Jyuu W, Erika LF, Gihan IT, Michael JD, William TT, Glenn AW, Krista V. Development of Contractures in DMD in Relation to MRI-Determined Muscle Quality and Ambulatory Function. J Neuromuscul Dis 2022; 9:289-302. [PMID: 35124659 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-210731] [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: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Joint contractures are common in boys and men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and management of contractures is an important part of care. The optimal methods to prevent and treat contractures are controversial, and the natural history of contracture development is understudied in glucocorticoid treated individuals at joints beyond the ankle. OBJECTIVE To describe the development of contractures over time in a large cohort of individuals with DMD in relation to ambulatory ability, functional performance, and muscle quality measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS In this longitudinal study, range of motion (ROM) was measured annually at the hip, knee, and ankle, and at the elbow, forearm, and wrist at a subset of visits. Ambulatory function (10 meter walk/run and 6 minute walk test) and MR-determined muscle quality (transverse relaxation time (T2) and fat fraction) were measured at each visit. RESULTS In 178 boys with DMD, contracture prevalence and severity increased with age. Among ambulatory participants, more severe contractures (defined as greater loss of ROM) were significantly associated with worse ambulatory function, and across all participants, more severe contractures significantly associated with higher MRI T2 or MRS FF (ρ: 0.40-0.61 in the lower extremity; 0.20-0.47 in the upper extremity). Agonist/antagonist differences in MRI T2 were not strong predictors of ROM. CONCLUSIONS Contracture severity increases with disease progression (increasing age and muscle involvement and decreasing functional ability), but is only moderately predicted by muscle fatty infiltration and MRI T2, suggesting that other changes in the muscle, tendon, or joint contribute meaningfully to contracture formation in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - J Wortman Ryan
- Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | | | | | - T Harrington Ann
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Arcadia University, Glennside, PA, USA
| | - L Zilke Kirsten
- Shriners Hospitals for Children -Portland, OR, USA.,Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | | | - Wang Dah-Jyuu
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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