Abstract #0666
Whole-body fasciculation detection in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) using motor unit MRI (MUMRI)
Linda Heskamp1, Matthew G. Birkbeck1,2,3, Julie Hall1,4, Ian S. Schofield1, Hugo de Oliveira5, Timothy L. Williams5, Roger G. Whittaker1, and Andrew M. Blamire1
1Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 2Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 3Northern Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tune, United Kingdom, 4Department of Neuroradiology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, 5Directorate of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Synopsis
The spontaneous contraction of motor units in muscle, i.e. fasciculation, has been recognised as an important diagnostic marker in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Fasciculation can be imaged with a novel MRI technique called motor unit MRI. This technique uses a diffusion weighted sequence on which fasciculation presents as short-living signal voids. We demonstrated an increased fasciculation rate in ALS patients compared to healthy controls by assessing the four body regions relevant in the diagnosis of ALS. The affected body regions differed between patients. This is in line with the heterogeneous disease onset and supports our proposed whole-body approach.
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