Abstract #0498

Myelin Water Imaging Using T2-Relaxation in the Spinal Cord; Comparison of Multi-echo GRASE and mcDESPOT

Emil Ljungberg¹, Irene Vavasour², Alexander Rauscher³, Anthony Traboulsee¹, Alex MacKay^2,4, and Shannon Kolind^1,2

¹Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, ²Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, ³Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, ⁴Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

There are currently several techniques for in vivo myelin water imaging using T₂ relaxation. In this study we compare two clinically feasible myelin water imaging protocols for the cervical spinal cord: mcDESPOT and multi-echo GRASE. Myelin estimates from GRASE were consistently higher than mcDESPOT in white matter, but both techniques were able to differentiate between white and gray matter. T₁ estimates from mcDESPOT also showed clear differences between white and gray matter. By combining GRASE and mcDESPOT, with total acquisition time less than 15 min, we can build a better picture of the tissue microstructure of the spinal cord.

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