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Laura Maugeri^1,2, Charles Nicaise³, Aleksandar Jankovski^4,5, Emil Malucelli⁶, Mauro DiNuzzo^2,7, Alessia Cedola⁸, Federico Giove^2,7, and Michela Fratini^2,8
1Institute of Nanotechnology Lecce Unit & Rome Unit, CNR, LECCE, Italy, ²Laboratory of Neurophysics and Neuroimaging (NaN), IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy, ³URPhyM – NARILIS, Université de Namur, Namur, Belgium, ⁴Institute of NeuroScience (IoNS), NEUR division, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium, ⁵Department of Neurosurgery, Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), CHU UCL Namur, Yvoir, Belgium, ⁶Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, ⁷Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche Enrico Fermi, Rome, Italy, ⁸Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR, ROME, Italy

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Data Processing, SPINAL CORD INJURY

Innovative biomarkers as well as new modalities to integrate structural information at higher level should be tuned up in order to understand the mechanisms underlying the pathology evolution. Here, we show some results obtained by integrating morphological information from X-ray phase contrast microtomography with histology combined with immunohistochemistry. Thanks to this approach, we demonstrated the possibility to use the cell number variation as a biomarker for pathological conditions.

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junchao qian¹, ke zhou¹, Chen Zhou², yu tian³, Yanan Zhang², Tianwei Song², and Junchao Qian^2
11.Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, P. R. China, Hefei, China, ²Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China, ³1.Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, P. R. China, Hefei,China, China

Keywords: Blood vessels, Blood vessels

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to neuronal cell death, axonal damage and demyelination. Brain undergo anatomical changes following SCI. Recently MR vessel size imaging has shown promising application in visualizing neovascularization. In this study we explored the possibility to vascular morphology changes and angiogenesis in the regions along the cranial corticospinal tract (CST) in SCI using vessel size imaging. The results showed increased microvascular density (Density), mean vessel diameter (mVD) and vessel size index (VSI) values in contralateral pyramids four weeks post-injury compared to pre-injury levels. Thus, vessel size imaging could provide valuable information of neovascularization in brain after SCI.

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Sang-Jin Im¹, Seokha Jin¹, and HyungJoon Cho^1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea, Republic of

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Diffusion Tensor Imaging

In this study, magnetic resonance imaging is used for anatomical and pathological studies of the spinal cord, investigating the mechanisms of neuralgia through diffusion magnetic resonance imaging techniques. However, analysis of ganglion changes in the spinal cord in multi-shell diffuse-weighted MRI signals remains challenging due to the ambiguous relationship between sympathetic and MRI signals. To study these relationships, we construct a neuropathic pain model using rats by performing in ex-vivo MRI experiments and neuropathic cell staining to provide insight into the treatment of neuropathic pain.

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Masaaki Hori^1,2, Akifumi Hagiwara², Kazumasa Yokoyama³, Issei Fukunaga⁴, Katsuhiro Sano², Koji Kamagata², Katsutoshi Murata⁵, Shohei Fujita^2,6, Christina Andica⁷, Akihiko Wada², Kouhei Kamiya^1,2, Julien Cohen-Adad⁸, and Shigeki Aoki^2,7
1Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan, ²Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan, ³Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan, ⁴Radiological Technology, Faculty of Health Science, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan, ⁵Siemens Japan K.K., Tokyo, Japan, ⁶Radiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, ⁷Faculty of Health Data Science, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan, ⁸NeuroPoly Lab, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord

We investigated the microstructural changes in the spinal cords of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) using anisotropic kurtosis and isotropic kurtosis (K_iso) derived from 2-shell single diffusion encoding (SDE) MRI data with spherical mean techniques (SMT) and mean signal diffusion kurtosis imaging. There was a significant difference in K_iso between MS and NMOSD at the level of C4 (P=0.032, Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction). Therefore, K_iso derived from 2-shell SDE data might potentially be useful for evaluating the spinal cord microstructure in MS and NMOSD patients.

Haoyue Shao¹, Xiangyu Tang¹, Qiufeng liu¹, and Weiyin Vivian Liu^2
1Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, ²GE Healthcare, Beijing, China

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Diffusion/other diffusion imaging techniques, cervical spondylotic myelopathy

MUSE (Multiplexed Sensitivity-Encoding) is a novel diffusion weighted imaging with 2 to 3-excitations, phase acquisition step reduction, to achieve high-resolution diffusion imaging, higher signal-to-noise ratio, fewer motion artifacts and magnetic field inhomogeneities. In this study, we applied MUSE-based diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the compression-caused microstructure changes in the spinal cord of each subject. Our results suggested that MUSE-DTI computed parameters (Trace, FA, ADC) have dependable diagnostic values in detecting CSM (cervical spondylotic myelopathy) and that the ADC value is the best indicator of spinal cord compression.

Xiangyu Tang¹, Haoyue Shao¹, Weiyin Vivian Liu², Qiufeng Liu¹, and Wenzhen Zhu^1
1Radiology department, Tongji hospital, Tongji medical college, Huazhong University of science and technology, Wuhan, China, ²MR Research, GE Healthcare, Beijing, China

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Quantitative Imaging, Synthetic MRI, Cervical spondylotic myelopathy

The present study for the first time applied synthetic MRI in diagnosis of patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Multiple relaxation maps (T1, T2 and PD maps) and contrast-weighted images were obtained in a single scan of synthetic MRI. Our study demonstrated that T1 and T2 relaxation times of spinal cord at maximal compression level (MCL) changed with a grade dependent difference and T1_MCL value could sensitively reflect the microstructural alteration of compressive spinal cord and even MCL at grade I, Moreover, T1_MCL and T2_MCL value was related to clinical scores and diameter values of the spinal cord at MCL.

YANG MaoJiang¹, Liu JianHao², ANUP Bhetuwal¹, QIONG Xian³, ZHANG HanWen¹, YANG HanFeng¹, Chen Meining⁴, and XU XiaoXue^1
1Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Nanchong, China, ²The Fifth People's Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China, ³Second Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College,Nanchong 637100, Nanchong, China, ⁴MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China, Shanghai, China

Keywords: Head & Neck/ENT, Head & Neck/ENT

The preoperative neuroimaging examination can clearly reflect the abnormalities of cervical intervertebral disc, cervical plexus and brachial plexus, help us understand the potential pathogenesis of intractable hiccup, and improve the efficacy.

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Diana Vucevic¹, Vadim Malis¹, Won Bae¹, and Mitsue Miyazaki^1
1Radiology, UCSD, San Diego, CA, United States

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Visualization

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) perfusion in the spinal canal is one of the greatest mysteries in the scientific community. CSF can be imaged without the use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) using our novel spin-labelling MRI technique at 3 Tesla. Perfusion of CSF in the spine can be seen in the thoraco-lumber region from the nerve roots. This CSF outflow may be absorbed by the venous plexus along the dorsal nerve roots. The second pathway It may be from the nerve roots, recirculated to lymphatic tissue and into the thoracic duct.

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SEOKHA JIN¹ and Hyung Joon Cho^1
1UNIST, Ulsan, Korea, Republic of

Keywords: Neuroinflammation, Neuroinflammation, Neuropathic pain

In this study, the effects of neuropathic pain on cerebral hemodynamics was investigated. For the neuropathic pain model, a spinal nerve ligation model was operated and validated by Von Frey test. To estimate the cerebral hemodynamics, DSC-MRI was performed up to 28 days after surgery.  As a result, it is possible to specify when or where the neuropathic pain strongly affects cerebral perfusion.

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Keisuke Nitta¹, Hajime Yokota², Takayuki Sada¹, Ryuuna Kurosawa¹, Koji Matsumoto¹, Takashi Namiki³, Masami Yoneyama³, Yoshitada Masuda¹, and Takashi Uno^2
1Radiology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba-shi, Japan, ²Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Chiba University Hospital, Chiba-shi, Japan, ³Philips Japan, Tokyo, Japan

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Neuro

Evaluation of intervertebral foramen stenosis is essential in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis. However, that is not easy because the intervertebral foramen is thin. We focused on the nodular change of the cervical nerve root, which is often visualized in patients with cervical spondylosis. We investigated the relationship between nodular changes and intervertebral foramen stenosis and confirmed the correlation between them. Thus, the identification of the nodular change may be helpful in the diagnosis of cervical spondylosis.

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Simon Schading¹, Maryam Seif^1,2, Tobias Leutritz², Markus Hupp¹, Armin Curt¹, Nikolaus Weiskopf^2,3, and Patrick Freund^1,2,4
1Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland, ²Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany, ³Felix Bloch Institute for Solid State Physics, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany, ⁴Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Quantitative Imaging

MRI acquisition time is a main factor for patient's comfort and motion artifacts. To avoid additional time consuming T₁-w MPRAGE imaging for measuring spinal cord atrophy, when quantitative multi-parameter maps (MPM) are available, we reconstructed and validated a synthetic T₁-w (synT₁-w) based on MPMs. Test-retest repeatability was assessed and synT₁-w images were compared with T₁-w MPRAGE in a longitudinal study following spinal cord injury. Measures derived from synT₁-w demonstrated high intra- and inter-site repeatability with only small difference when compared to MPRAGE. The estimated effects of spinal cord atrophy agreed with those obtained from MPRAGE.

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Daniel V Litwiller¹, R Scott Hinks², Ajeetkumar Gaddipati³, Trevor Kolupar³, and Suchandrima Banerjee^4
1GE Healthcare, Denver, CO, United States, ²GE Healthcare, Albuquerque, NM, United States, ³GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI, United States, ⁴GE Healthcare, Menlo Park, CA, United States

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Artifacts

Robust spine imaging with conventional fast spin echo remains a clinical challenge due to motion artifacts from multiple sources. Flow artifacts from cerebrospinal fluid can be especially problematic for assessments of the spinal cord itself. In addition, judging the effectiveness of various protocol modifications can be challenging in vivo due to the stochastic nature of the relationship between image timing and the cardiac cycle. In this work, we present results of a simple digital spine phantom that can be used in the controlled evaluation of strategies to mitigate artifacts from CSF flow.

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Sultan Zaman Mahmud^1,2, Seyedeh Nasim Adnani^1,2, Thomas S. Denney^1,2, and Adil Bashir^1,2
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States, ²Auburn University MRI Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States

Keywords: Spinal Cord, New Trajectories & Spatial Encoding Methods, Rosette Imaging, Compressed Sensing.

MRI is very useful to investigate spinal cord pathologies non-invasively. However, signal to noise ratio (SNR), spatial resolution and motion artifacts are some of the main challenges in spinal cord MRI. Ultra high field MRI such as 7T, can improve the SNR enabling high spatial resolution. The inherent property of low susceptibility to motion of non-Cartesian imaging technique such as Rosette, can improve the motion related artifacts. So the goal of this study was to develop a technique for high-resolution spinal cord imaging at 7T using Rosette MRI.

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Yao-Wen Liang¹, Chao-Hung Kuo², Feng-Mao Chiu¹, Ting-Chun Lin¹, Yu-Hao Lan¹, Chih-Yu Wang¹, and You-Yin Chen^1,3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ²Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ³Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Machine Learning/Artificial Intelligence

 Degenerative alterations are the most common cause of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) in seniors. LSS is detected more often due to enhanced imaging technology and an aging population. Imaging data help individuals with chronic symptoms considering invasive therapy. This study combined the approach of assessing disc degeneration with stenosis assessment, using a deep learning-based segmentation module and a home-made autonomous measuring system.

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Azadeh Sharafi¹, Andrew Klein¹, and Kevin M Koch^1
1Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Radiomics

Quantitative MRI of the spinal cord can provide insightful information about injured or degenerated cord tissue. However, the presence of instrumentation used treat such conditions can compromise the ability to perform such analyses.  In this preliminary study, first and second-order radiomics features were computed across axial segmented spinal cord in subjects with 1) degenerative cervical myelopathy and 2) spinal cord injury patients treated with spinal fusion. Radiomics were computed using T1 and T2 weighted metal-artifact suppressed 3D-MSI and analyzed and successfully utilized to model local fusion status within the clinical cohorts and also against non-instrumented control subjects.   

Xinyu Wang¹, Fengtan Li¹, Xinli Wang¹, Chen Zhang², and Jianxun Qu^3
1Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China, ²MR Scientific Marketing, Siemens Healthcare, Beijing, China, ³MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Beijing, China

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord

In this study, the cine-phase contrast (cine-PC) sequence was used to compare the flow rate of cerebrospinal fluid in the midbrain aqueduct of patients with Chiari type I before and after posterior decompression and to analyze the difference in the ratio of cerebellar volume to posterior fossa volume between patients with Chiari type I and normal controls. Cine-PC magnetic resonance imaging and 3D-T2 scanning are shown to be effective for surgically evaluating patients undergoing posterior decompression surgery.

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Shiva Shahrampour¹, Mahdi Alizadeh¹, Devon Middleton¹, Benjamin De Leener², Laura Krisa¹, Adam E. Flanders³, Scott H. Faro³, Julien Cohen-Adad², MaryJane Mulcahey¹, and Feroze B. Mohamed^1
1Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States, ²Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada, ³Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Pediatric

 Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in the pediatric population is relatively rare but carries significant psychological and physiological consequences. Advanced qMRI techniques has shown promising results to evaluate spinal cord integrity at a macro and microstructural level.

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Kevin Koch¹ and Andrew S Nencka^1
1Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States

Keywords: Spinal Cord, Spinal Cord

This study analyzed spinal cord diffusivity in CSM subjects treated with metallic spinal fusion decompression.   Metal-artifact-suppressed diffusion-weighted MRI were collected on 38 CSM subjects and 25 controls.   Diffusivity was analyzed as a function of cohort and level instrumentation (instrumented, non-instrumented, and adjacent segment).   In addition, the impact of mJOA symptom scores and duration since the fusion procedure on diffusivity were modeled.   Multi-linear mixed effects models accounted for demographic variations and multiple-measures (at different cord levels) within each subject.  The results of the study identified consistent reductions in diffusivity due to the presence of fusion instrumentation.  

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Michela Fratini^1,2, Lorenzo Giovannelli³, Laura Maugeri^1,3, Mauro Di Nuzzo⁴, Marta Moraschi⁵, Maria Guidi⁴, Daniele Mascali⁴, Irene Egidi⁴, and Federico Giove^3,4
1Nanotec, CNR, Roma, Italy, ²IRCSS Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy, ³IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Roma, Italy, ⁴CREF, Roma, Italy, ⁵Radiation Oncology, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Roma, Italy

Keywords: Spinal Cord, fMRI (task based), BOLD signal

We have studied Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) patients group with spinal cord fMRI during a multilevel force grip motor task. We demostrated the possibility to use spinal cord fMRI as a biomarker for clinical application.

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Nan Wang¹, Guobin Li², Shuheng Zhang², Dan Yu³, Yongming Dai³, and Qingwei Song^1
1the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China, ²Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China, ³MR Collaboration, Central Research Institute, United Imaging Healthcare, Shanghai, China

Keywords: Cancer, Whole Body

Water-Fat Imaging (WFI) based on chemical shifts can provide excellent separation of water and fat in tissue. This work investigated the application of WFI to spinal diseases. The diagnosis performances were compared with the T1-weighted (T1W) and T2-weighted short-TI-inversion-recovery (T2W STIR) sequence. For hyperosteogeny, spinal metastasis, and disc herniation, the WFI showed comparable performance as the combination of T1W and T2W STIR imaging within a much shorter acquisition time.