Abstract
Object
To evaluate the potential of quantitative MR techniques [voxel-based morphometry (VBM), T2-relaxometry, mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA)] in the diagnostics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Materials and methods
Thirty-three ALS patients and thirty age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included in the cross-sectional study. T1WI, T2WI and T2 relaxometry sequences were performed at 1.5T. DWI was performed in a subgroup of 12 patients. Disease severity was estimated with the ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALS-FRS).
Results
We detected decreased T2 relaxation rate (R2) in the frontal white matter (FWM) (left and right P < 0.005) and caudate nucleus (left P < 0.005) in ALS patients. R2 in the FWM correlated with age in patients and controls. A correlation (P < 0.01, cluster-level corrected) between atrophy in the corona radiata and the limb ALS-FRS subset was found, as well as a difference between patients and controls in this area. No correlation between FA/MD and ALS-FRS was observed in the T2 hyperintense region of the posterior limb of the internal capsule (PLIC), or in the site of atrophy detected by VBM. No R2 or PD changes in the PLIC were detected. TBSS revealed decreased FA in the corona radiata and callosal body.
Conclusions
Decreased R2 in the left caudate and bilateral FWM may help in the diagnostic process and disqualifies these regions as internal controls in ALS studies. The PLIC is not a reliable diagnostic marker of ALS.
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Acknowledgments
Supported from grants IGA MZ ČR, NS9654-4/2008, NR8491-3/2007, NR8937-4/2006 and research programs MŠM 0021620849 and MŠM 0021620816.
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Preliminary data were presented on ESMRMB meeting in Antalya in 2009 as a lecture (abstract: Keller J, Vymazal J, Jech R, Ridzoň P, Rusina R, Keller O: Quantitative MR Imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Magma Magn Reson Mater Phys Biol Med, 2009, 22, Suppl. 1, p.131).
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Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.
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Keller, J., Vymazal, J., Ridzoň, P. et al. Quantitative brain MR imaging in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Magn Reson Mater Phy 24, 67–76 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-010-0237-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-010-0237-4