Abstract #1618

Multi-echo gradient echo MRI of the lumbosacral spinal cord reveals level-dependent decreases in cross-sectional area in multiple sclerosis

Gabriella L Dunay¹, Funminiyi Adepegba², Anna Combes³, Alicia E Cronin², Lipika Narisetti², Grace Sweeney², Logan Prock², Delaney Houston², Atlee A Witt^2,4, Xinyu Zhang⁵, Simon Vandekar⁵, Francesca Bagnato^6,7, Subramaniam Sriram⁶, Seth A Smith^1,2,8, and Kristin P O'Grady^1,2,8

¹Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States, ²Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States, ³Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom, ⁴Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, United States, ⁵Department of Biostatistics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States, ⁶Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States, ⁷Department of Neurology, Nashville VA Medical Center, TN Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, TN, United States, ⁸Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord, Lumbar

Motivation: Understanding biological variability in the lumbosacral spinal cord is necessary for studying disease pathophysiology in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Goal(s): Determine which variables influence lumbosacral enlargement cross-sectional area and compare controls to pwMS.

Approach: Multi-echo gradient echo images were acquired in 48 controls and 42 pwMS. The cord and gray matter were automatically segmented. Effects of biological variables and MS on cross-sectional areas were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models.

Results: There were no significant main effects of age, sex, height or weight on MRI-derived cord and gray matter areas in controls. Spinal level-dependent decreases in cross-sectional areas were detected in pwMS.

Impact: Characterizing contributions of biological variables to lumbosacral spinal cord MRI morphometry in healthy controls enables detection of disease-related effects such as cord and gray matter atrophy in pwMS, informing future studies of imaging biomarkers in the lumbosacral enlargement.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.