TY  - JOUR
TI  - High resolution isotropic diffusion imaging in post-mortem neonates: a feasibility study
Y1  - 2018///
AV  - public
VL  - 91
IS  - 1092
N1  - This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher?s terms and conditions.
N2  - 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.
ID  - discovery10054650
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1259/bjr.20180319
SN  - 1748-880X
JF  - The British Journal of Radiology
A1  - McDowell, AR
A1  - Shelmerdine, SC
A1  - Carmichael, DW
A1  - Arthurs, OJ
ER  -