Magnetic resonance imaging of myelin.
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.
Laule
Cornelia
C
Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 2B5 Canada. claule@physics.ubc.ca
Vavasour
Irene M
IM
Kolind
Shannon H
SH
Li
David K B
DK
Traboulsee
Tony L
TL
Moore
G R Wayne
GR
MacKay
Alex L
AL
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure*