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Abstract #4528

Fasciculation MR Imaging (faMRI) of the Lower Leg

Nikolaus M. Szeverenyi1 and Graeme M. Bydder1

1Radiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States

Fasciculations are brief spontaneous contractions affecting a small number of muscle fibers. We investigated how diffusion sensitized MR images were able to detect these contractions in the lower leg of healthy volunteers. Large intensity decreases were observed (at random times) in random areas of muscle on images, acquired repeatedly using single shot (diffusion sensitized) EPI acquisitions over the course of several minutes. Signal intensity reductions were attributed to intra-voxel incoherent-like motion due to displacement of tissue. Quantification compared activated areas to total muscle area and frequency of activation on a per pixel basis. Results were expressed as a fasciculation index parameter and in fasciculation frequency maps.

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