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Assessment of brain temperatures during different phases of the menstrual cycle using diffusion-weighted imaging thermometry

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate changes in brain temperature according to the menstrual cycle in women using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) thermometry and to clarify relationships between brain and body temperatures.

Materials and methods

In 20 healthy female volunteers (21.3–38.8 years), DWI of the brain was performed during the follicular and luteal phases to calculate the brain temperature. During DWI, body temperatures were also measured. Group comparisons of each temperature between the two phases were performed using the paired t test. Correlations between brain and body temperatures were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient test.

Results

Mean diffusion-based brain temperature was 36.24 °C (follicular) and 36.96 °C (luteal), showing a significant difference (P < 0.0001). Significant differences were also seen for each body temperature between the two phases. Correlation coefficients between diffusion-based brain and each body temperature were r = 0.2441 (P = 0.1291), –0.0332 (0.8387), and –0.0462 (0.7769), respectively.

Conclusions

In women of childbearing age, brain and body temperatures appear significantly higher in the luteal than in the follicular phase. However, brain and body temperatures show no significant correlations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan

    Taro Tsukamoto, Taro Shimono, Asari Sai, Akira Yamamoto, Shinichi Sakamoto & Yukio Miki

  2. Advanced MR Imaging Research Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan

    Koji Sakai

Authors
  1. Taro Tsukamoto
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  2. Taro Shimono
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  3. Asari Sai
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  4. Koji Sakai
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  5. Akira Yamamoto
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  6. Shinichi Sakamoto
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  7. Yukio Miki
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taro Tsukamoto.

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Conflict of interest

Yukio Miki received a research grant from JSPS KAKENHI (grant no. 25461842). The other authors have no conflict of interest directly relevant to the content of this article.

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Tsukamoto, T., Shimono, T., Sai, A. et al. Assessment of brain temperatures during different phases of the menstrual cycle using diffusion-weighted imaging thermometry. Jpn J Radiol 34, 277–283 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-016-0519-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11604-016-0519-5

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