Diffusion MRI in acute nervous system injury

Journal of Magnetic Resonance
Matthew D Budde, Nathan P Skinner

Abstract

Diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) and related techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) are uniquely sensitive to the microstructure of the brain and spinal cord. In the acute aftermath of nervous system injury, for example, DWI reveals changes caused by injury that remains invisible on other MRI contrasts such as T2-weighted imaging. This ability has led to a demonstrated clinical utility in cerebral ischemia. However, despite strong promise in preclinical models and research settings, DWI has not been as readily adopted for other acute injuries such as traumatic spinal cord, brain, or peripheral nerve injury. Furthermore, the precise biophysical mechanisms that underlie DWI and DTI changes are not fully understood. In this report, we review the DWI and DTI changes that occur in acute neurological injury of cerebral ischemia, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and peripheral nerve injury. Their associations with the underlying biology are examined with an emphasis on the role of acute axon and dendrite beading. Lastly, emerging DWI techniques to overcome the limitations of DTI are discussed as these may offer the needed improvements to translate to clinical settings.

Citations

Oct 21, 2018·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·Dietmar KrappingerRene Schmid
Apr 4, 2020·The International Journal of Neuroscience·Neetu Mittal, Satyam Tayal
Nov 27, 2020·Journal of Neuroscience Methods·Filip SzczepankiewiczMarkus Nilsson
Feb 3, 2019·Radiologic Clinics of North America·Jason F TalbottSanjay S Dhall
Sep 21, 2021·Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation·Jefferson Braga SilvaBruna Leiria Meréje Leal

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