Filter‐probe diffusion imaging improves spinal cord injury outcome prediction
Year: 2018
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is a powerful tool for investigating spinal cord injury (SCI), but has limited specificity for axonal damage, which is the most predictive feature of long-term functional outcome. In this study, a technique designed to detect acute axonal injury, filter-probe double diffusion encoding (FP-DDE), is compared with standard DWI for predicting long-term functional and cellular outcomes. METHODS: This study extends FP-DDE to predict long-term functional and histological outcomes in a rat SCI model of varying severities (n = 58). Using a 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, a whole-cord FP-DDE spectroscopic voxel was acquired in 3 minutes at the lesion site and compared to DWI at 48 hours postinjury. Relationships with chronic (30-day) locomotor and histological outcomes were evaluated with linear regression. RESULTS: measurements were also more closely related to the number of injured axons measured 30 days after the injury than standard DWI. Furthermore, acute FP-DDE images showed a clear and easily interpretable pattern of injury that closely corresponded with chronic MRI and histology observations. INTERPRETATION: Collectively, these results demonstrate FP-DDE benefits from greater specificity for acute axonal damage in predicting functional and histological outcomes with rapid acquisition and fully automated analysis, improving over standard DWI. FP-DDE is a promising technique compatible with clinical settings, with potential research and clinical applications for evaluation of spinal cord pathology. Ann Neurol 2018;83:37-50.
Source: Annals of Neurology
DOI: 10.1002/ana.25260
Institutions: Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2799413394