Jay Gonyea1,
Christopher G. Filippi2, 3, Angela Applebee2,
Trevor Andrews1, 4, Lindsay Karr, Scott Hipko1,
Richard Watts1
1Department
of Radiology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, VT,
United States; 2Department of Neurology, University of Vermont
College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, United States; 3Department of
Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; 4Philips
Healthcare, Cleveland, OH, United States
Quantitative T1&[rho] maps were calculated for 13 MS patients and 17 age-matched control subjects using a novel 3D fluid attenuated variable flip angle turbo-spin echo acquisition. The resulting high SNR whole-brain T1&[rho] maps were then segmented into white and gray matter, and spatially normalized. Significant differences between MS patients and controls were found in cortical gray matter (p=0.007), juxtacortical white matter (p=0.003) and major white matter tracts (p=0.002). The sensitivity of quantitative T1&[rho] imaging to the macromolecular content of tissue may provide an important biomarker of changes in normal-appearing white- and gray-matter in MS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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