| 15:45 | 1055.
 | A Potential Substitution for Gadolinium in Brachial Plexus Magnetic Resonance Neurography: Deep Learning-Based Virtual Enhancement. Weiqiang Liang1, Yi Li2, Guangliang Ju3, Xiaoyun Liang2, and Jing Zhang1
1Department of Radiology, Department of Radiology,Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, HUST, Wuhan, China, Wuhan, China, 2Institute of Research and Clinical Innovations, Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China, Shanghai, China, 3Smart Imaging Software R&D Center, Neusoft Medical Systems Co., Ltd, Shenyang, China, Shenyang, China Keywords: Peripheral Nerves, Neurography Motivation: Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Neurography (MRN) improves visualization of brachial plexus, but gadolinium risks limit clinical use. To reduce reliance on gadolinium contrast in brachial plexus (BP) MRN, we explore deep learning's potential for virtual enhancement. Goal(s): To investigate the feasibility of virtually enhancing brachial plexus MRN without gadolinium.
Approach: An image enhancement network based on 2.5D U-Net was trained to generate virtually enhanced BP images from non-enhancement BP images, achieving high image quality and nerve visualization. Results: The virtual enhancement BP images showed comparable vascular suppression and image quality to gadolinium-enhanced images, demonstrating the potential for gadolinium substitution in brachial plexus MRN.
Impact: This work opens the door to safer
and more accessible BP MRN by reducing reliance on gadolinium. It may lead to
broader clinical adoption and facilitate research on non-contrast imaging
methods, benefiting both clinicians and patients.
|
| 15:57 | 1056.
 | Increased brain iron deposition in the basial ganglia is associated with cognitive and motor dysfunction in type 2 diabetes Chaofan Sui1, Meng Li2, Qihao Zhang3, Jing Li4, Yian Gao1, Xinyue Zhang1, Na Wang1, Changhu Liang1, and Lingfei Guo1
1Department of Radiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China, 2Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital; Center for Intervention and Research on adaptive and maladaptive brain Circuits underlying mental health (C-I-R-C)., Jena, Germany, 3Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States, 4Department of Radiology, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, China Keywords: Peripheral Nerves, Neurodegeneration, quantitative susceptibility mapping, type 2 diabetes, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, motor dysfunction Motivation: Diabetes is thought to be related to an imbalance in iron homeostasis and abnormal iron accumulation. Goal(s): To explore the changing mode of brain iron metabolism in basal ganglia in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and diabetes without DPN (NDPN) using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). Approach: Brain iron of T2DM was assessed using QSM. Results: Susceptibilities in the putamen and the caudate nucleus were higher in T2DM than in healthy controls, while there was no significant difference between the DPN and NDPN groups. Susceptibility of the putamen negatively correlated with moto- and cognitive function in T2DM. Impact: Iron-based susceptibility in the putamen, measured by QSM, can
reflect the motor function in patients with type 2 diabetes, and might hint micro pathological changes in
brain tissue in patients with type 2
diabetes. |
| 16:09 | 1057.
 | High-resolution mapping of hand innervation: novel approaches at 7T MRI Pauline Coralie Guillemin1, David Ferreira Branco2, Yacine M'Rad1, Loan Mattera3, Orane Lorton1, Pierre-Alexandre Poletti2, Gian-Franco Piredda4,5, Antoine Klausser4,5, Roberto Martuzzi3, Rares Salomir2, and Sana Boudabbous2
1Image guided Interventions Laboratory (949), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 2Radiology Department, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 3Fondation Campus Biotech Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland, 4Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology, Siemens Healthineers International AG, Lausanne, Switzerland, 5CIBM Centre for Biomedical Imaging, Geneva, Switzerland Keywords: Peripheral Nerves, Nerves, Pacinian corpuscles Motivation: Exploit the high resolution provided by the 7T MRI technology to detect fine structures in the hand. Goal(s): To create an atlas of hand structures, with a specific focus on nerves and Pacinian corpuscles. This atlas is intended to serve both diagnostic purposes and to support reconstructive surgical procedures. Approach: An ethics committee was obtained to scan volunteers using 7T MRI. Post-processing was carried out to delineate the nerve fiber network and mechanoreceptors. Results: We successfully reconstruct and describe the anatomy of all nerve fibers from the carpus to the digital nerve division, as well as the Pacinian corpuscles, for three healthy volunteers. Impact: A visual
interactive “Hand Nerves Atlas” matching morphology and fiber tracking of hand
nerves on high-field will be delivered to the scientific community for
fundamental research, to clinicians for microscopic surgery of nerves, and
for educational purposes in medical schools. |
| 16:21 | 1058.
 | Mapping spinal cord vascular reactivity and vascular territories using fMRI in highly sampled individuals Kimberly J. Hemmerling1 and Molly G. Bright1
1Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States Keywords: Spinal Cord, fMRI Motivation: Impaired vascular function in the spinal cord contributes to numerous neurological pathologies and it is important to be able to image those changes in individuals. Goal(s): Map spinal cord vascular reactivity (SCVR) amplitude and hemodynamic delay at the individual level in two highly sampled adults. Approach: Participants performed 18 spinal cord fMRI runs of a breath-holding task. SCVR amplitude was mapped using an end-tidal CO2 regressor and hemodynamic delay was mapped by temporally shifting that regressor. Results: Individual SCVR amplitude and hemodynamic delay maps reveal an earlier ventral response and later dorsal response, aligning with vascular territories of the cervical spinal cord. Impact: Individual maps of spinal cord vascular reactivity (SCVR) hemodynamic delay align with arterial territories. These are the first non-invasive maps of vascular territories in the human spinal cord. Future work will map altered SCVR in patients with neurological conditions. |
| 16:33 | 1059.
 | Personalized Lumbosacral Spinal Nerve Roots 3D Reconstruction and Computer Simulation for Spinal Cord Stimulation Yuxing Zhou1, Jionghui Liu1, Wenqi Zhang2, Ying-Hua Chu3, and Fumin Jia1
1Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 2School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 3MR Research Collaboration Team, Siemens Healthineers Ltd., Shanghai, China Keywords: Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord Stimulation, Nerve Roots, 3D reconstrcution Motivation: Spinal cord stimulation requires personalized 3D reconstructed model to address challenges arising from individual variability. Goal(s): This study aims to image the entire spinal cord with lumbosacral nerve roots and propose a method for reconstructing a 3D model for simulation. Approach: Three MRI sequences were collected for reconstruction and nerve roots annotation. Then the 3D spinal cord model was reconstructed using a custom interpolating algorithm guided by anatomical rules. Results: A tailored imaging protocol and reconstruction method designed for the spinal cord and its nerve roots have been proposed, resulting in a 3D personalized spinal cord model. Impact: The protocol offers an effective guide for researchers and clinicians conducting spinal cord and nerve roots imaging. Additionally, it enables the creation of personalized computational spine models with nerve roots and rootlets from MRI images, facilitating simulation studies. |
| 16:45 | 1060.
 | High Resolution R1rho Dispersion Imaging in Swine Spinal Cord: A Specimen Study David B Wang1, Katherine Li2, Mitchell J Christiansen3,4, Alan Rivera-Garcia5, and Ping Wang3,6
1Gilbert Classical Academy, Gilbert, AZ, United States, 2Desert Vista High School, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 3Neuroimaging Innovation Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 4Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 5Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States, 6Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States Keywords: Spinal Cord, Relaxometry, T1rho dispersion Motivation: R1rho imaging can provide novel information on dynamic processes within tissues, allowing for a more comprehensive analysis of the parameters of chemical exchange and/or intrinsic microstructure. Goal(s): To examine the feasibility of R1rho imaging in spinal cord. Approach: We performed high resolution R1rho imaging in the swine spinal cord of swine spine specimens. Results: The results showed that the dispersion is measurable in both spinal white matter and gray matter, suggesting that R1rho dispersion may have potential to characterize the de/remyelination and nerve injuries/repairs in neurological disorders. Impact: The study suggested that R1rho dispersion is measurable in spinal cord, which may have potential to characterize the de/remyelination and nerve injuries/repairs in spinal cord disorders. |
| 16:57 | 1061.
 | Parkinson’s disease in the spinal cord: an exploratory study to establish T2*w, MTR and diffusion-weighted imaging metric values Samuelle St-Onge1, Camille Coustaury1, Caroline Landelle2, Linda Solstrand Dahlberg2, Ovidiu Lungu2, Julien Doyon2, and Benjamin De Leener1,3,4
1NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, 2McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, 3CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, QC, Canada, 4Computer Engineering and Software Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada Keywords: Spinal Cord, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, MTR, NODDI, T2*w, Biomarkers Motivation: Much remains unknown about the impact of Parkinson's disease on the central nervous system, particularly how it affects the spinal cord microstructure. Goal(s): This exploratory study aims to establish DWI, MTR and T2*w metric values to explore potential morphometric alterations in the spinal cord related to Parkinson’s disease. Approach: DWI, MTR and T2*w metrics were extracted from both Parkinson’s disease patients and healthy controls. Results: Significant correlations were found in several regions of the spinal cord, particularly for ODI, FICVF and FA, suggesting the relevance of further studying these metrics in the spinal cord of Parkinson's disease patients. Impact: This
study is the first to establish values for MTR, T2* and DWI metrics in the
spinal cord of a population with Parkinson’s disease, which could contribute to
a better understanding of this disease in the central nervous system. |
| 17:09 | 1062.
 | Correcting Susceptibility artifacts with Unified RF/Shim Coil (UNIC) in Cervical Spine MRI for Subjects with and without Orthodontic Implants Archana Vadiraj Malagi1, Nader Binesh2, Fardad Michael Serry1, Jeremy Zepeda1, Ziyang Long1,3,4, Chia-Chi Yang1, Li-Ting Huang1, Yi Zhang1, Hyunsuk Shim5, Debiao Li1, Hsin-Jung Yang1, and Hui Han4
1Biomedical Imaging Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 2Department of Imaging, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 3Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States, 4Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical, New York, NY, United States, 5Department of Radiation Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States Keywords: Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord, B0 Shimming; Cervical spine; DWI; DTI Motivation: Metallic orthodontic devices can introduce strong susceptibility artifacts that hinder clinical interpretation of cervical spine MRI. Goal(s): Using novel unified RF/shim coils (UNIC) to reduce field variation caused by metal susceptibility artifact. Approach: Total of eighteen subjects (5 with braces) were scanned with a UNIC coil research prototype. Results: The integrated UNIC shim array significantly increased the voxel percentage from 28% with scanner-shimming to 46% in DWI, reducing distortion by 61% with braces and 15% without braces in DWI, and by 41% in DTI. It also decreased B0 field variation by 63% with braces and 31% without. Impact: Unified RF/shim coil delivered improved quality and corrected image
distortions in cervical spine scans by mitigating magnetic field variation,
including those from orthodontic braces, ensuring more accurate diffusion
measurements and consistently reducing susceptibility artifacts. |
| 17:21 | 1063.
 | Investigating Respiration Induced B0 Field Variations in the Thoracic and Lumbar Spinal Cord at 7T Christoph Stefan Aigner1, Alexandre D'Astous2,3, Sebastian Dietrich1, Max Lutz1, Eva Alonso-Ortiz2,3, Julien Cohen-Adad2,3,4,5, and Sebastian Schmitter1,6,7
1Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Berlin, Germany, 2NeuroPoly Lab, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada, 3Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, 4Functional Neuroimaging Unit, CRIUGM, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada, 5Mila-Quebec AI Institute, Montréal, QC, Canada, 6Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany, 7Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States Keywords: Spinal Cord, High-Field MRI, 7 Tesla, Spinal Cord, B0 Shimming, Respiration Resolved Motivation: Respiration-related B0 variations and their modulation in the thoracolumbar spinal cord (SC) at 7T have not been thoroughly investigated. Knowing B0 variations is crucial for assessing the potential of SC imaging. Goal(s): Quantification of B0 variations in the thoracolumbar SC across different respiratory states and evaluation of the effectiveness of tailored B0 shims in mitigating these variations. Approach: Non-Cartesian respiration-resolved 3D B0 field maps were acquired during free-breathing and employed for B0 shimming using the SC Shimming Toolbox. Results: Tailored B0 shims reduce the B0 variations to approximately 50Hz (standard deviation) across the thoracolumbar SC. Respiration introduces up to 40Hz of additional field-offset. Impact: Our results quantify B0 fluctuations in the
thoracolumbar SC and show that customized B0 shims effectively
reduce these fluctuations to a standard deviation of around 50Hz. Further
investigation of deep breathing is crucial for optimizing shim strategies in
future uses. |
| 17:33 | 1064.
 | Impact of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) level on Cortical Reorganization Lukman E. Ismaila1,2, Farzad V. Farahani3, Cristina L. Sadowsky4,5, Haris I. Sair1,6, James J. Pekar1,2, and Ann S. Choe1,2
1Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, 2F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, 3Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States, 4International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, 5Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States, 6The Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States Keywords: Spinal Cord, Brain Connectivity, Spinal Cord, Graph Theory Motivation: We aimed to fill the knowledge gap regarding the impact of spinal cord injury (SCI) level on cortical reorganization. Goal(s): We sought to investigate cortical reorganization patterns in chronic SCI patients, specifically differentiating between cervical and thoracic injuries. Approach: Employing graph theory analysis of functional connectivity, we analyzed data from 32 chronic SCI patients and 32 healthy controls. Results: Significant alterations in somatomotor and visual networks in SCI cohort was observed. Notably, those with thoracic injuries exhibited more pronounced functional segregation within the somatomotor network, dividing it into dorsolateral and paramedian SMN regions and a ventrolateral SMN region. Impact: Our findings on the influence of SCI level on brain reorganization may impact clinicians, researchers, and rehabilitation specialists, guiding tailored interventions and raising new questions about optimizing SCI recovery. |