title: Magnetic resonance imaging of myelin.
abstract: The ability to measure myelin in vivo has great consequences for furthering our knowledge of normal development, as well as for understanding a wide range of neurological disorders. The following review summarizes the current state of myelin imaging using MR. We consider five MR techniques that have been used to study myelin: 1) conventional MR, 2) MR spectroscopy, 3) diffusion, 4) magnetization transfer, and 5) T2 relaxation. Fundamental studies involving peripheral nerve and MR/histology comparisons have aided in the interpretation and validation of MR data. We highlight a number of important findings related to myelin development, damage, and repair, and we conclude with a critical summary of the current techniques available and their potential to image myelin in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5 Canada. claule@physics.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laule
authors.forename: Irene M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Vavasour
authors.forename: Shannon H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kolind
authors.forename: David K B
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Tony L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Traboulsee
authors.forename: G R Wayne
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Alex L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: MacKay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure*