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Quantification of myelin in children using multiparametric quantitative MRI: a pilot study

  • Paediatric Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of multiparametric quantitative MRI for myelination quantification in children.

Methods

We examined 22 children (age 0–14 years) with multiparametric quantitative MRI. The total volume of myelin partial volume (Msum), the percentage of Msum within the whole brain parenchyma (Mbpv), and the percentage of Msum within the intracranial volume (Micv) were obtained. Four developmental models of myelin maturation (the logarithmic, logistic, Gompertz, and modified Gompertz models) were examined to find the most representative model of the three parameters. We acquired myelin partial volume values in different brain regions and assessed the goodness of fit for the models.

Results

The ranges of Msum, Mbpv, and Micv were 0.8–160.9 ml, 0.2–13%, and 0.0–11.6%, respectively. The Gompertz model was the best fit for the three parameters. For developmental model analysis of myelin partial volume in each brain region, the Gompertz model was the best-fit model for pons (R 2 = 74.6%), middle cerebeller peduncle (R 2 = 76.4%), putamen (R2 = 95.8%), and centrum semiovale (R 2 = 77.7%). The logistic model was the best-fit model for the genu and splenium of the corpus callosum (R 2 = 79.7–93.6%), thalamus (R 2 = 81.7%), and frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital white matter (R 2 = 92.5–96.5%).

Conclusions

Multiparametric quantitative MRI depicts the normal developmental pattern of myelination in children. It is a potential tool for research studies on pediatric brain development evaluation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Young Ju Lee and Sung-Min Gho of GE Healthcare Korea for technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Ajou University Medical Center, 164 World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 443-380, South Korea

    Hyun Gi Kim & Jin Wook Choi

  2. Department of Radiology, Konkuk University Hospital, Konkuk University School of Medicine, 4-12, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-914, South Korea

    Won-Jin Moon

  3. Office of Biostatistics, Department of Humanities and Social Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, 443-380, South Korea

    JinJoo Han

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  1. Hyun Gi Kim
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Correspondence to Jin Wook Choi.

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Funding

This study was funded in part by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (2017R1D1A1B03034768).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study formal consent is not required.

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For this type of retrospective study formal consent is not required.

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Kim, H.G., Moon, WJ., Han, J. et al. Quantification of myelin in children using multiparametric quantitative MRI: a pilot study. Neuroradiology 59, 1043–1051 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-017-1889-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-017-1889-9

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