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Diffusion-weighted imaging of the spine using radialk-space trajectories

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Abstract

Introduction

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) of the spine requires robust imaging methods, that are insensitive to susceptibility effects caused by the transition from bone to soft tissue and motion artifacts due to breathing, swallowing, and cardiac motion. The purpose of this study was to develop a robust imaging method suitable for DWI of the spine.

Methods and subjects

A radialk-space spin echo sequence has been implemented, which is sell-navigating because each acquisition line passes through the origin ofk-space. Influence of cardiac motion and associated flow of cerebrospinal fluid is minimized by cardiac gating with a finger photoplethysmograph. The sequence has been tested on a 1.5T system. Diffusion-weighted images of six normal volunteers were acquired in the sagittal plane with 4b values between 50 and 500 s mm−2. Because of the symmetries of the cord, diffusion measurements in the head-foot (HF) or left-right (LR) directions were sufficient to measure the dominant effects of anisotropy.

Results

The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) measured, respectively, in the LR and HF directions were (0.699 ± 0.050) × 10−3 and (1.805 ± 0.086) × 10−3 mm2 s−1 in the spinal cord. (1.588 ± 0.082) × 10−3 and (1.528 ± 0.052) × 10−3 mm2 s−1 in the intervertebral disks, and (0.346 ± 0.047) × 10−3 and (0.306 ± 0.035) × 10−3 mm2 s−1 in the vertebrae of the cervicothoraeic spine.

Conclusion

Diffusion-weighted spin echo sequences with radial trajectories ink-space provide a means of achieving robust, high quality diffusion-weighted imaging and measuring ADCs in the spine. The application of the diffusion-weighting gradients in different directions allows diffusion anisotropy to be measured.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroradiology, University of Heidelberg Medical School, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, D-69120, Heidelberg, Germany

    Olaf Dietrich, Jochen Fiebach, Sabine Heiland & Klaus Sartor

  2. Robert Steiner MRI Unit, Hammersmith Hospital. Imperial College of Science. Technology and Medicine, London, UK

    Amy Herlihy & Joseph V. Hajnal

  3. MR Division, Marconi Medical Systems, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Wayne R. Danneis

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  1. Olaf Dietrich
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  2. Amy Herlihy
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  3. Wayne R. Danneis
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  4. Jochen Fiebach
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  5. Sabine Heiland
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  6. Joseph V. Hajnal
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  7. Klaus Sartor
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Correspondence to Olaf Dietrich.

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Dietrich, O., Herlihy, A., Danneis, W.R. et al. Diffusion-weighted imaging of the spine using radialk-space trajectories. MAGMA 12, 23–31 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678270

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02678270

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