%0 Journal Article
%@ 1748-880X
%A McDowell, AR
%A Shelmerdine, SC
%A Carmichael, DW
%A Arthurs, OJ
%D 2018
%F discovery:10054650
%J The British Journal of Radiology
%N 1092
%T High resolution isotropic diffusion imaging in post-mortem neonates: a feasibility study
%U https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10054650/
%V 91
%X OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential of advanced diffusion imaging in Post-Mortem MRI (PMMR) at 3T.  Methods: We acquired PMMR brain and body imaging in 12 neonates, mean gestational age 33.4 weeks (range 29-37 weeks) at 3T and 1.5T. Head and body diffusion imaging at 1.5T using bipolar diffusion encoding and single-shot echo-planar imaging (EPI) for acquisition (TE 96ms; TR 2700ms; voxel size 1.8x1.8mm in-plane with slice thickness 5mm; b values of 500 and 1000 s/mm2 applied in three orthogonal directions; total acquisition time 2:12). A whole-body 3T diffusion imaging protocol using monopolar diffusion encoding and simultaneous multi-slice EPI acquisition with gradients applied in 12 uniformly distributed directions were obtained (TE 53.4ms; TR 5600ms; 1.8mm isotropic; multi-band factor 2; b-values of 250, 750, 1250 and 1750 s/mm2; acquisition time 2:09 for a single b-value,).  Results: There was significant improvement in image quality in multiband, multi-slice diffusion PMMR protocol. On visual assessment of image quality, 1.5T DWI scored poorly (mean 2.4 SD ± 0.47), and all 3T b values individually scored significantly higher (p < 0.001) apart from b = 250 which was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: Recent advances in diffusion sequences and hardware utilising higher field strengths and gradient performance allows whole-body diffusion PMMR imaging at high resolution with improved image quality compared to the current clinical approach. Advances in knowledge: We have demonstrated feasibility of a multi-slice, multi-band quantitative diffusion imaging sequence in the perinatal post-mortem setting. This will allow more detailed and quantitative clinical PMMR investigations using diffusion MRI in the future.
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