In vivo quantitative whole‐brain T 1 rho MRI of multiple sclerosis
- Department of Radiology University of Vermont College of Medicine Burlington Vermont USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences University of Vermont College of Medicine Burlington Vermont USA
- Department of Radiology University of Vermont College of Medicine Burlington Vermont USA, Philips HealthTech Cleveland Ohio USA
- Department of Radiology University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA
- Department of Neurological Sciences University of Vermont College of Medicine Burlington Vermont USA, Department of Radiology North Shore University Hospital‐Long Island Jewish New York New York USA
To apply quantitative whole‐brain T 1 ‐rho (T 1ρ ) and T 2 imaging to the detection and quantification of brain changes resulting from multiple sclerosis (MS).
MethodsTwenty‐three MS patients with clinically isolated syndrome (10) and relapsing remitting MS (13) phenotypes, compared with 24 age‐matched healthy controls were imaged at 3 Tesla. An axial T 1ρ ‐weighted three‐dimensional turbo spin echo sequence with a variable flip angle and fluid suppression was used. Spin‐lock times of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 ms were used. Corresponding T 2 maps were also acquired.
ResultsWhole brain white matter (WM) T 1ρ maps were elevated compared with controls ( P = 0.002). WM lesion T 1ρ and T 2 values were highly correlated (r = 0.83), but T 1ρ demonstrated 25% better contrast to noise ratio ( P < 0.001). WM lesion T 1ρ correlated with disease duration. Gray matter T 1ρ was negatively correlated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, r = −0.45, P = 0.03. Normal appearing gray matter and cortical gray matter lesions were negatively correlated on T 1ρ , but not on T 2 (r T1ρ = −0.63, p T1ρ = 0.03; r T2 = −0.17, p T2 = 0.6).
ConclusionT 1ρ MRI demonstrates enhanced lesion contrast compared with T 2 , and in some cases may provide complementary information. T 1ρ may provide a useful measure of demyelinating processes in MS. J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2015;42:1623–1630.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0001753
- OSTI ID:
- 1400711
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Journal Name: Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 42; ISSN 1053-1807
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- France
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Two-exponential analysis of spin-spin proton relaxation times in MR imaging using surface coils
Comparison of two different methods of image analysis for the assessment of microglial activation in patients with multiple sclerosis using (R)-[N-methyl-carbon-11]PK11195