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Reduced gray-white matter contrast localizes the motor cortex on double inversion recovery (DIR) 3T MRI

  • Functional Neuroradiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose

Reduced gray-white matter contrast along the central sulcus has been described on T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The purpose of this study was to assess the gray-white matter contrast of the motor cortex on double inversion recovery (DIR), a sequence with superior gray-white matter differentiation.

Methods

The gray-white matter signal on DIR was retrospectively compared to T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo (T1-MPRAGE) using normal (n = 25) and abnormal (n = 25) functional MRI (fMRI) exams. Quantitative gray-white matter contrast ratios (CR) of the precentral and adjacent gyri were obtained on normal exams. Two neuroradiologists qualitatively rated reduced gray-white matter contrast of the hemispheres of both normal and abnormal exams. Hand motor functional mapping was used as a reference.

Results

In normal hemispheres (n = 50), the mean CR was significantly lower on DIR (0.44) vs T1-MPRAGE (0.63, p < 0.001). Reduced gray-white matter contrast was categorized as “definitely present” more frequently on DIR than T1-MPRAGE by reviewers in both normal (n = 50; reviewer 1 DIR 88% and MPRAGE 68%, p = 0.02; reviewer 2 DIR 86% and T1-MPRAGE 64%; p=0.01) and abnormal hemispheres (n = 50; reviewer 1 DIR 80% and T1-MPRAGE 38%, p < 0.001; reviewer 2 DIR 74% and T1-MPRAGE 46%, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

Reduced gray-white matter contrast of the motor cortex is more pronounced on DIR compared to T1-MPRAGE on quantitative and qualitative assessments of normal MRI exams. In abnormal cases, reviewers more definitively identified the motor cortex on DIR. In cases with distorted brain anatomy, DIR may be a useful adjunct sequence to localize the motor cortex.

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Funding

This research was not funded.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Hena Joshi & Ranliang Hu

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michael J. Hoch

  3. Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Maria Braileanu

  4. Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Ashwani Gore

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Jon T. Willie

Authors
  1. Hena Joshi
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  2. Michael J. Hoch
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  3. Maria Braileanu
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  4. Ashwani Gore
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  5. Jon T. Willie
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  6. Ranliang Hu
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Ranling Hu, Micheal J. Hoch, Jon T. Willie; methodology: Ranling Hu, Micheal J. Hoch, Jon T. Willie, Hena Joshi; formal analysis and investigation: Ranling Hu, Micheal J. Hoch, Hena Joshi; writing—original draft preparation: Hena Joshi, Maria Braileanu; writing—review and editing: Ranling Hu, Micheal J. Hoch, Jon T. Willie, Hena Joshi, Maria Braileanu, Ashwani Gore; supervision: Ranling Hu, Hena Joshi, Maria Braileanu; data availability. All data and materials support our claims and comply with field standards.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Braileanu.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This research study was conducted retrospectively from data obtained for clinical purposes. This study was approved by the Emory University institutional review board (IRB) with a waiver for informed consent.

Consent to participate

This was a retrospective study approved by the Emory University Institutional Review Board (IRB); consent to participate was not obtained.

Consent for publication

This was a retrospective study approved by the Emory University Institutional Review Board (IRB); consent for publication was not obtained.

Code availability

No special code was created for this study; methods were performed with readily available software.

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Presentation

Previously presented as a poster at 12th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Functional Neuroradiology, October 15-17, 2018; Coronado, California, USA.

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Cite this article

Joshi, H., Hoch, M.J., Braileanu, M. et al. Reduced gray-white matter contrast localizes the motor cortex on double inversion recovery (DIR) 3T MRI. Neuroradiology 63, 1071–1078 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-020-02631-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-020-02631-5

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