Synopsis

Keywords: Neuro: Nervous system, Contrast mechanisms: Spectroscopy, Contrast mechanisms: Diffusion

There is a large unmet need for MRI to provide clinically meaningful information about inflammatory processes in the brain to improve the ability to differentiate between various diseases. Currently, conventional MRI techniques do not provide specific information about inflammatory processes which leads to a long list of differential diagnoses arising from similar features on diagnostic MR images. This presentation will provide an overview of how advanced MR techniques such as spectroscopy, diffusion tensor imaging, and susceptibility weighted imaging aim to provide information about specific pathological processes in the central nervous system.

Syllabus

Advanced Imaging for Neuroinflammation Research
ISMRM Presentation Syllabus
Speaker: Erin L MacMillan, PhD
Session: ISMRT-ISMRM Joint Forum on Neuro MRI: Imaging Fire in the Brain
Date/Time: Monday June 5, 8:15 – 10:15am
Location: Room 716A/B
AUDIENCE – Clinicians, physicists, MR technologists/radiographers, neuroscientists, and anyone with an interest in neuroinflammation.
OUTCOME/OBJECTIVES – The learning objectives are to gain an overview of the advanced MRI techniques which seek to provide specific biomarkers of inflammatory processes in the central nervous system.
PURPOSE – There is a large unmet need for MRI to provide clinically meaningful information about inflammatory processes in the brain to improve the ability to differentiate between various diseases. Currently, conventional MRI techniques do not provide specific information about inflammatory processes which leads to a long list of differential diagnoses arising from similar features on diagnostic MR images. This presentation will provide a tour of the advanced MRI approaches that have been applied to imaging neuroinflammation in research studies and how they seek to differentiate between processes such as proliferation of inflammatory cells, edema, and loss of neurons and axons.
METHODS & RESULTS – Advanced MRI techniques that will be presented include:
-MR spectroscopy (MRS): to differentiate between glial proliferation, loss of neurons, and edema.
-Advanced diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) acquisition & models: to differentiate between increased cellularity, loss of axons, and edema.
-Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI): to reveal areas of activated microglia at the rim of lesions in multiple sclerosis.
DISCUSSION – The advantages and limitations of each technique will be discussed.
REFERENCES – Much of the content of this talk is also covered in the book Imaging Neuroinflammation: https://www.elsevier.com/books/imaging-neuroinflammation/laule/978-0-323-91771-1

Acknowledgements

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References

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