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Magnetization transfer imaging of multiple sclerosis

  • Workshop “New MR Techniques In Clinical Neurology”
  • Published:
The Italian Journal of Neurological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures signal primarily from the hydrogen nuclei of water, magnetization transfer (MT) MRI indirectly detects macromolecular associated hydrogen nuclei via their magnetic interaction with the observable water. In the normal adult CNS, white matter exhibits the largest MT effect due to the macromolecular content of the highly structured and lipid rich myelin. Pathologies which alter the structural integrity and the relative macromolecular-water composition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), therefore show abnormal MT. Conventional MRI, which has a high MS lesion detection sensitivity but poor specificity in terms of differentiating the pathological state of a plaque, can thus be supplemented by MT to provide more specific information on the extent of demyelination and axonal loss. In this paper we review the basic concepts of MT imaging and its role in MS lesion characterization.

Sommario

La risonanza magnetica per immagini (RMI) convenzionale fornisce informazioni sulla base del segnale derivante dai nuclei di idrogeno dell'acqua. Al contrario lamagnetization transfer (MT) RMI misura il segnale di nuclei dell'idrogeno associati a macromolecole tramite la loro interazione con l'acqua. Nel sistema nervoso centrale di un soggetto adulto normale, la sostanza bianca evidenzia il maggiore effetto di MT a causa dell'alto contenuto di macromolecole presente nella struttura complessa e ricca in lipidi della mielina.

Condizioni patologiche in cui è alterata l'integrità e la composizione del binomio acqua-macromolecole mostrano un'alterata MT. Un valido esempio è rappresentato dalla sclerosi multipla, condizione patologica in cui la RMI convenzionale ha una alta sensitività per la individuazione della lesione, ma una bassa specificità nel differenziare lo stato patologico della placca. Al contrario, l'uso della MT RMI può fornire informazioni più specifiche riguardo il grado di demielinizzazione e perdita assonale. In questa review verranno trattati i concetti base della MT ed il suo ruolo nella caratterizzazione delle lesioni cerebrali da sclerosi multipla.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. McConnell Brain Imaging Center, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Pike G. B. Ph. D.

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  1. Pike G. B. Ph. D.
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Financial support was provided by the Medical Research Council of Canada, Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec, and the Killam Foundation.

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Pike, G.B. Magnetization transfer imaging of multiple sclerosis. Ital J Neuro Sci 18, 359–365 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02048239

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