Richard D. Dortch1,2, E B. Welch2,3,
John C. Gore1,2, Seth A. Smith1,2
1Department of Radiology and
Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; 2Vanderbilt
University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville,
TN, United States; 3MR Clinical Science, Philips Healthcare,
Cleveland, OH, United States
The
goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of performing
quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) at high resolution in the spinal
cord on clinical 3T systems. While MT imaging has been used to assess brain
tissue microstructure, similar studies in the spinal cord have been limited
due to high resolution demands and motion. Presumably, spinal cord qMT
studies would benefit from the increased SNR at 3T; however, such studies are
limited by SAR constraints. To address these issues, we developed a high
resolution qMT imaging protocol of the cervical spinal cord at 3T and
acquired data in healthy subjects.