Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Multiple sclerosis: Benefits of q-space imaging in evaluation of normal-appearing and periplaque white matter
Masaaki Hori1, Mariko Yoshida1, Kazumasa Yokoyama2
1Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Introduction:
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) reveals white matter pathology in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). A recent non-Gaussian diffusion imaging technique, q-space imaging (QSI), may provide several advantages over conventional MRI techniques in regard to in vivo evaluation of the disease process in patients with MS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of root mean square displacement (RMSD) derived from QSI data to characterize plaques, periplaque white matter (PWM), and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in patients with MS.
Methods:
We generated apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) maps by using conventional DTI data from 21 MS patients; we generated RMSD maps by using QSI data from these patients. We used the Steel-Dwass test to compare the diffusion metrics of regions of interest in plaques, PWM, and NAWM.
Results:
ADC differed (P<0.05) between plaques and PWM and between plaques and NAWM. FA differed (P<0.05) between plaques and NAWM. RMSD differed (P<0.05) between plaques and PWM, plaques and NAWM, and PWM and NAWM.
Conclusion:
RMSD values from QSI may reflect microstructural changes and white-matter damage in patients with MS with higher sensitivity than do conventional ADC and FA values.
