Maxim Bester1,2, Eric Sigmund1,
Ali Tabesh1, Hina Jaggi1, Matilde Inglese3,4,
Robin Mitnick1
1Radiology, New York University, New
York, NY, United States; 2Neuroradiology, Eppendorf-Hamburg
University, Hamburg, Germany; 3Radiology , New York University,
New York, NY, United States; 4Neurology, New York University, New
York, NY, United States
Spinal
cord (SC) is a frequent and clinically relevant site of pathology in multiple
sclerosis (MS). Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) measures non-Gaussian water
diffusion and DKI-derived mean kurtosis (MK) is an index of tissue
microstructural complexity. Using a moderately expanded diffusion sampling
scheme, MK can be obtained simultaneously with DTI metrics. The aim of this
study was to investigate global and regional structural abnormalities in the
cervical SC of MS patients using both DKI and DTI. Compared to controls,
fractional anisotropy and MK were significantly decreased and mean
diffusivity was increased in patients. MK was significantly associated to
disability.