title: Spatially selective 2D RF inner field of view (iFOV) diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) of the pediatric spinal cord.
abstract: Magnetic resonance based diffusion imaging has been gaining more utility and clinical relevance over the past decade. Using conventional echo planar techniques, it is possible to acquire and characterize water diffusion within the central nervous system (CNS); namely in the form of Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). While each modality provides valuable clinical information in terms of the presence of diffusion and its directionality, both techniques are limited to assuming an ideal Gaussian distribution for water displacement with no intermolecular interactions. This assumption neglects pathological processes that are not Gaussian therefore reducing the amount of potentially clinically relevant information. Additions to the Gaussian distribution measured by the excess kurtosis, or peakedness, of the probabilistic model provide a better understanding of the underlying cellular structure. The objective of this work is to provide mathematical and experimental evidence that Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) can offer additional information about the micromolecular environment of the pediatric spinal cord. This is accomplished by a more thorough characterization of the nature of random water displacement within the cord. A novel DKI imaging sequence based on a tilted 2D spatially selective radio frequency pulse providing reduced field of view (FOV) imaging was developed, implemented, and optimized on a 3 Tesla MRI scanner, and tested on pediatric subjects (healthy subjects: 15; patients with spinal cord injury (SCI):5). Software was developed and validated for post processing of the DKI images and estimation of the tensor parameters. The results show statistically significant differences in mean kurtosis (p < 0.01) and radial kurtosis (p < 0.01) between healthy subjects and subjects with SCI. DKI provides incremental and novel information over conventional diffusion acquisitions when coupled with higher order estimation algorithms.
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States. Electronic address: Christopher.conklin@jefferson.edu.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Conklin
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Devon M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Middleton
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Mahdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.affiliation: Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finsterbusch
authors.affiliation: ICON Medical Imaging, Warrington, PA, United States.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Raunig
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Faro
authors.affiliation: Radiology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Pallav
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Physical Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krisa
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinko
authors.affiliation: Electrical Engineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Joan Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Delalic
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mulcahey
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Feroze B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Diffusion; Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI); Pediatrics; Spinal cord injury