Bretta Russell-Schulz1, Cornelia Laule2, 3, David Li3, Alex MacKay1, 3
1Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 2Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; 3Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
We used an extended Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill sequence with echoes out to 1120ms to characterize longer T2 times in the healthy corticospinal tract (CST). The CST intra-/extra-cellular T2 peak was broadened compared to other white matter structures and often split into two distinct peaks. The intracellular and extracellular water environments in the CST had different T2 times, causing the intracellular water peak to be pushed into the shorter myelin water T2 regime and the extracellular peak to be pushed to higher T2 times. The CSTs unique MR characteristics should be taken into consideration when being examined, especially when compared to pathological tissue.
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