Double Diffusion Encoding MRI for the Clinic

Overview

Journal Magn Reson Med

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Radiology

Date 2017 Dec 22

PMID 29266375

Citations 36

Authors

Grant Yang

Qiyuan Tian

Christoph Leuze

Max Wintermark

Jennifer A McNab

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop double diffusion encoding (DDE) MRI methods for clinical use. Microscopic diffusion anisotropy measurements from DDE promise greater specificity to changes in tissue microstructure compared with conventional diffusion tensor imaging, but implementation of DDE sequences on whole-body MRI scanners is challenging because of the limited gradient strengths and lengthy acquisition times.

Methods: A custom single-refocused DDE sequence was implemented on a 3T whole-body scanner. The DDE gradient orientation scheme and sequence parameters were optimized based on a Gaussian diffusion assumption. Using an optimized 5-min DDE acquisition, microscopic fractional anisotropy (μFA) maps were acquired for the first time in multiple sclerosis patients.

Results: Based on simulations and in vivo human measurements, six parallel and six orthogonal diffusion gradient pairs were found to be the minimum number of diffusion gradient pairs necessary to produce a rotationally invariant measurement of μFA. Simulations showed that optimal precision and accuracy of μFA measurements were obtained using b-values between 1500 and 3000 s/mm . The μFA maps showed improved delineation of multiple sclerosis lesions compared with conventional fractional anisotropy and distinct contrast from T -weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery and T -weighted imaging.

Conclusion: The μFA maps can be measured using DDE in a clinical setting and may provide new opportunities for characterizing multiple sclerosis lesions and other types of tissue degeneration. Magn Reson Med 80:507-520, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Citing Articles

Differentiation of white matter histopathology using b-tensor encoding and machine learning.

Rios-Carrillo R, Ramirez-Manzanares A, Luna-Munguia H, Regalado M, Concha L PLoS One. 2023; 18(6):e0282549.

PMID: 37352195 PMC: 10289327. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282549.

Diffusion phase-imaging in anisotropic media using non-linear gradients for diffusion encoding.

Wochner P, Schneider T, Stockmann J, Lee J, Sinkus R PLoS One. 2023; 18(3):e0281332.

PMID: 36996066 PMC: 10062566. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281332.

Estimation of free water-corrected microscopic fractional anisotropy.

Arezza N, Santini T, Omer M, Baron C Front Neurosci. 2023; 17:1074730.

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A novel framework for in-vivo diffusion tensor distribution MRI of the human brain.

Magdoom K, Avram A, Sarlls J, Dario G, Basser P Neuroimage. 2023; 271:120003.

PMID: 36907281 PMC: 10468712. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120003.

Extra-axonal contribution to double diffusion encoding-based pore size estimates in the corticospinal tract.

Ulloa P, Methot V, Wottschel V, Koch M MAGMA. 2023; 36(4):589-612.

PMID: 36745290 PMC: 10468962. DOI: 10.1007/s10334-022-01058-8.

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