Abstract #1442

Multi-Parametric MRI Characterization of Inflammation in Murine Skeletal Muscle

Nathan D. Bryant¹, Ke Li¹, Mark Does², Daniel Gochberg¹, Thomas Yankeelov¹, Jane Park³,⁴, Bruce Damon¹,⁴

¹Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; ²Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN; ³Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States; ⁴Co-Senior Author

Healthy skeletal muscle was compared to inflammation in the contralateral quadriceps muscles of mice. T2, indices of diffusion, quantitative magnetization transfer, and dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE) MRI data were acquired during the same imaging session. The edematous muscle exhibited a significant increase in T2, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the DCE estimate of the interstitial volume, while a concomitant decrease was observed in the proton pool ratio. The aim of this study is to provide a basis for understanding how inflammation, in isolation from complex pathology, influences the quantitative MRI parameters that are commonly used to characterize muscle disease.