Magnetic Resonance Characterization of Axonal Response to Spinal Cord Injury
Abstract
Assessment of axon health in spinal cord injury (SCI) is vital for proper diagnosis and treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely performed in patients and provides valuable information about cord edema and hemorrhage. However, comprehensive prediction of axonal changes from in vivo MR imaging remains elusive. At the U. Penn site, we are applying two novel MRI methods to the problem of assessment of axonal loss, axonal diameter distribution, and myelin loss (q-space imaging (QSI) and ultra-short echo-time (UTE) MRI) first on animal specimens and then on human subjects. The objective during this period was to apply QSI to injured mouse spinal cords. We have already created the injured cords, and now with vital hardware upgrades complete, the QSI experiments will commence. Additionally, preliminary data on pig spinal cords was collected in a 1.5T scanner to assess clinical feasibility. The data are currently being analyzed. We have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of UTE MRI to directly image myelin in freshly excised rat spinal cords. Through careful investigation of the MR signal of myelin extract, we validated our UTE MRI methodology. Our results suggest the potential of UTE MRI to quantify myelin content. Direct quantification of myelin content would remove ambiguities that exist in indirect methods leading to a more accurate assessment of myelin health.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA554731
Entities
People
- Felix W. Wehrli
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania