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Observation of microscopic diffusion anisotropy in the spinal cord using double‐pulsed gradient spin echo MRI
Author(s) -
Komlosh M.E.,
Lizak M.J.,
Horkay F.,
Freidlin R.Z.,
Basser P.J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.21528
Subject(s) - anisotropy , isotropy , spin echo , nuclear magnetic resonance , diffusion mri , imaging phantom , anisotropic diffusion , materials science , spinal cord , diffusion , magnetic resonance imaging , physics , optics , medicine , radiology , psychiatry , thermodynamics
A double‐pulsed gradient spin echo (d‐PGSE) filtered MRI sequence is proposed to detect microscopic diffusion anisotropy in heterogeneous specimen. The technique was developed, in particular, to characterize local microscopic anisotropy in specimens that are macroscopically isotropic, such as gray matter. In such samples, diffusion tensor MRI (DTI) produces an isotropic or nearly isotropic diffusion tensor despite the fact that the medium may be anisotropic at a microscopic length scale. Using d‐PGSE filtered MRI, microscopic anisotropy was observed in a “gray matter” phantom consisting of randomly oriented tubes filled with water, as well as in fixed pig spinal cord, within a range of b‐values that can be readily achieved on clinical and small animal MR scanners. These findings suggest a potential use for this new contrast mechanism in clinical studies and biological research applications. Magn Reson Med 59:803–809, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.