A preliminary study of the effects of trigger timing on diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord

Summers, Paul; Stämpfli, Philipp; Järmann, Thomas; Kwiecinski, S.; Kollias, S.

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	A preliminary study of the effects of trigger timing on diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord
Authors:	Summers, Paul Stämpfli, Philipp Järmann, Thomas Kwiecinski, S. Kollias, S.
Published in:	American Journal of Neuroradiology
Volume(Issue):	27
Issue:	9
Page(s):	1952
Pages to:	1961
Issue Date:	Oct-2006
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	American Society of Neuroradiology
ISSN:	0195-6108 1936-959X 1936-959X
Language:	English
Subject (DDC):	616.8: Neurology, diseases of nervous system
Abstract:	Background and Purpose: Diffusion tensor and diffusion-weighted spinal cord imaging remain relatively unexplored techniques despite demonstrations that such images can be obtained and may yield clinically relevant findings. In this study, we examined the temporal dynamics of spinal cord motion and their impact on diffusion tensor image quality. Methods: Four healthy volunteers underwent phase contrast-based velocity mapping and segmented echo-planar diffusion tensor scans of the cervical spinal cord. Regions of interest in the cord were used to identify the temporal patterns of motion. The delay of data acquisition after the cardiac trigger was varied to correspond to either quiescence or motion of the cord. Results: The cervical spinal cord consistently displayed maximal velocities in the range of 0.5 cm/s and accelerations of up to 25 cm/s2. In both these respects, the cervical cord values were greater than those of the medulla. Despite this pronounced motion, approximately 40% of the cardiac cycle can be described as relatively calm, with absolute velocities and accelerations less than 20% of the maximum values. Confining image acquisition to this window reduced ghosting artifacts and increased the consistency with which the dominant direction of diffusion was along the rostral-caudal axis in both gray and white matter of the spine. Preliminary clinical application and fiber tracking in pathologic cases was feasible, and alterations of the diffusion properties by multiple sclerosis lesions, tumor, and syringomyelia were seen. Conclusions: Acquiring DTI data during the quiescent phase of spinal cord motion can reduce ghosting artifacts and improve fiber tracking.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/4997
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Engineering
Appears in collections:	Publikationen School of Engineering

Files in This Item:

There are no files associated with this item.

Show full item record

Summers, P., Stämpfli, P., Järmann, T., Kwiecinski, S., & Kollias, S. (2006). A preliminary study of the effects of trigger timing on diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 27(9), 1952–1961.

Summers, P. et al. (2006) ‘A preliminary study of the effects of trigger timing on diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord’, American Journal of Neuroradiology, 27(9), pp. 1952–1961.

P. Summers, P. Stämpfli, T. Järmann, S. Kwiecinski, and S. Kollias, “A preliminary study of the effects of trigger timing on diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord,” American Journal of Neuroradiology, vol. 27, no. 9, pp. 1952–1961, Oct. 2006.

SUMMERS, Paul, Philipp STÄMPFLI, Thomas JÄRMANN, S. KWIECINSKI und S. KOLLIAS, 2006. A preliminary study of the effects of trigger timing on diffusion tensor imaging of the human spinal cord. American Journal of Neuroradiology. Oktober 2006. Bd. 27, Nr. 9, S. 1952–1961

Summers, Paul, Philipp Stämpfli, Thomas Järmann, S. Kwiecinski, and S. Kollias. 2006. “A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Trigger Timing on Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Human Spinal Cord.” American Journal of Neuroradiology 27 (9): 1952–61.

Summers, Paul, et al. “A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Trigger Timing on Diffusion Tensor Imaging of the Human Spinal Cord.” American Journal of Neuroradiology, vol. 27, no. 9, Oct. 2006, pp. 1952–61.