Exploring Sodium MRI Contrast Beyond Concentration in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions
Robert Stobbe1, Penny Smyth2, Roxane Billey2, Leah White2, Fabrizio Giuliani2, Derek Emery3, and Christian Beaulieu1
1Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 2Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, 3Radiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Two different relaxation-weighted 23Na
sequences were compared to density-weighted 23Na imaging in the
context of multiple sclerosis (MS) and the lesion contrast produced by each
sequence was significantly different, thus identifying the presence of
substantial 23Na relaxation change. Given that macromolecular
density and structure directly influence the electric field gradients driving
orientation of the nuclear electric quadrupole moment and 23Na
relaxation, exploration of 23Na relaxation change may help in the
assessment of MS including axonal loss and demyelination. The use of
relaxation-weighted sequences and their relative combination to eliminate
sodium concentration dependence is a starting point for 23Na
relaxation exploration.
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